British banking groupHBOS - which is set to be taken over byLloyds TSB - is planning to offshore around 2,000 UK-based IT jobs to centres in India, according to press reports.

The technology jobs, at Edinburgh and Halifax, are expected to go early next year. Offshoring plans were drawn up by executives during a trip to India before the proposed Lloyds TSB takeover deal.

HBOS says it has been exploring for some time whether to extend use of overseas contracts in the area of software development and applications.

But the bank says "no decisions have been taken" and any extension of offshoring will only occur after consultation with unions.