§ 35. Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether any satisfactory scheme has yet been brought to his notice and been approved by him for bringing under better control the numerous holiday clubs, Christmas clubs and other slate clubs; and whether he can make a statement on the subject?
§ Mr. COOPERIt has pot been possible to find any practicable scheme of compulsory control for such clubs. A national savings club scheme has however recently been introduced by the National Savings Movement, in cooperation with the Post Office Savings Bank and trustee savings banks. This scheme, which sets out simple model rules for adoption by any club which so desires, has my warm approval, and I hope that it will be widely adopted.
§ Mr. SOMERVILLEI am extremely obliged to the hon. Member for the action taken in this matter. Would it be possible for the Government to give the widest publicity to this saving scheme before the advent of Christmas?
§ Mr. COOPERWe are anxious to give this scheme every publicity we can.
§ Mr. THORNEDoes the hon. Member not think that, if the members of these clubs were to take a keener interest in the business when they meet, it would be impossible for them to be defrauded?