§ 1. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Postmaster-General if, in view of the new methods which are being used to encourage savings and as a lead to the trustee saving banks and joint stock banks, he will now reintroduce home safes for savings.
§ The Postmaster-General (Dr. Charles Hill)No, Sir, for I believe that the object of the home safe system is now better served by the National Savings stamps scheme.
§ Mr. Gresham CookeIs my right hon. Friend aware that in Twickenham, for instance, there is a waiting list of several months, if not years, for home safes from the trustee savings banks? Would it not be a good thing to reintroduce this eminently practical means of saving through the Post Office?
§ Dr. HillI think not, Sir. Apart from the cost, I think that, broadly speaking, the money-box has tended to yield place to the National Savings stamp.
§ Mr. UsborneCan the Postmaster-General explain to us so that we can understand it what is the sense, on the 1972 one hand, of trying to encourage people to save and, on the other hand, setting up an Independent Television Authority which tells us to spend?