§ 21. Mr. Nabarroasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement upon the progress of National Savings, including new investments and withdrawals in the Post Office and Trustee Savings Banks, for the current National Savings year to date; how these figures compare with a similar period in the previous year; and to what causes he attributes the accelerated rate of withdrawals from the Post Office and Trustee Savings Banks.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI would refer the hon. Member to the detailed figures published weekly by the National Savings Committee. The pattern of saving is extremely complex and I would prefer not 187 to speculate on the factors which may be influencing people in their choice of investments. If, however, the hon. Member will study the published figures he will see that Savings Certificates have been extremely buoyant this year and that the net rate of withdrawal of National Savings as a whole is lower than it was a year ago.