§ MR. HOWELL (Bethnal Green, N.E.)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consent to lay before this House a Return showing the amount of unclaimed moneys, including the accruing interest thereon, in the several Trustee Savings Banks of the country, and also the amounts, if 433 any, of such unclaimed money which nave been appropriated to make good deficiencies in the banks that have been closed?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir J. T. HIBBERT,) Oldham(who replied) said: I am afraid that it would be impossible to obtain such a Return. I am advised that any Return as to unclaimed moneys in Trustee Savings Banks must be very incomplete. Only some of the Savings Banks have Rubs relating to those deposits, and, as regards banks not having such Rules, it would be impossible to say what are unclaimed moneys. The Government have no means of discovering what amounts, if any, of unclaimed moneys have been appropriated by the trustees to make good deficiencies in Savings Banks that have been closed.
§ MR. HOWELLIn consequence of the unsatisfactory nature of the answer of the right hon. Gentleman, I give notice that on the earliest opportunity I shall call attention to this question.