HC Deb 30 November 1998 vol 321 c85W
Mr. Sayeed

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the advantages of including the savings-related share option scheme within the proposed system of ISA accounts. [61187]

Ms Hewitt

The facility to transfer shares emerging from Inland Revenue approved all-employee savings related share option and profit sharing schemes to ISAs continues a facility already available with single company PEPs. The facility has been retained for ISAs following responses to the original ISA consultation by companies operating these schemes. We are persuaded that this facility is a significant incentive to employees in these schemes to hold onto their shares and can help to achieve our objective of boosting employee share ownership.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is his latest estimate of the number of additional savers expected as a result of the introduction of the individual savings account; and if he will make a statement; [61070]

(2) how many extra savers he expects as a result of the introduction of the individual savings account. [60945]

Ms Hewitt

I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the answer given by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr. Gibb) on 17 November 1998,Official Report, column 496.