HC Deb 03 March 1953 vol 512 cc189-90
39. Mr. Grimond

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates the annual rate of saving to be now.

Mr. Maudling

Such information as is available will be given in the next issue of the National Income and Expenditure Estimates, which it is hoped to publish shortly.

Mr. Grimond

Will the Minister agree that, unless the new estimates are very much better than the old ones, the present rate of savings is inadequate to provide the necessary investment at home or allow anything over for investment abroad; and, if he agrees, will he say what steps are being taken to increase real savings, particularly small savings, in this country?

Mr. Maudling

I agree about the fun damental importance of savings, but I would not care to anticipate either the estimates or my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

Mr. Gaitskell

Would the hon. Gentleman be a little more precise about the word "shortly"? Does he hope that this national income figure will be published before the end of the month?

Mr. Maudling

I hope it will be before the end of the month.

Mr. Godfrey Nicholson

Will the Treasury see that the next Digest of Statistics analyses more precisely the figures under the heading of "Total capital formation," in order to try to show the country what the real savings are, instead of confusing the issue so much that much more than the real savings are included under the general heading?

Mr. Maudling

I will bear that suggestion in mind.