LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister Gordon Brown said yesterday that further measures may be needed to encourage banks to resume a normal flow of credit to small British businesses and homeowners.

Brown came under pressure yesterday from opposition lawmakers who complained that the government's £37 billion ($55.5 billion) recapitalisation programme for banks had not yet eased the flow of credit.

Brown said the government was monitoring banking activity, and meeting frequently with bankers to try to resolve issues which continue to restrict credit during the global financial crisis. "We are ready to take further measures if necessary," Brown said.

Brown's spokesman Michael Ellam told reporters new measures are likely to be announced on Monday, when treasury chief Alistair Darling publishes his pre-budget review.

"This is obviously something we keep under constant review, that's something that the chancellor (Darling) will address in his pre-budget review," Ellam said.

The government's plan to inject capital into banks by taking equity stakes was taken up by HBOS, Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC last month.