§ 20. Mr. Wainwrightasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now prepared to grant permission to the trustee savings banks to have a cheque-book system.
§ Sir E. BoyleIt is not yet possible to announce a final decision.
§ Mr. WainwrightDoes not the hon. Gentleman realise that he is taking too long on this issue? Is he not aware that in the very near future more wages and salaries will be paid directly into the banks and that cheque books will become a major necessity for workers in this country? When will the Government do something about this? Is the delay because some of the big banks object to cheque books being held by depositors in the trustee savings banks?
§ Sir E. BoyleI have some sympathy with the hon. Gentleman in this matter, which I have considered. Since the end of April, 1960, the initiative has lain with the Treasury for less than two months. I hope that there will be a meeting with the joint stock banks in the very near future. Their co-operation would be essential to the success of a trustee savings bank cheque service. I agree with what the hon. Gentleman says and hope that there will be rapid progress in this matter.
§ Mr. W. R. WilliamsWhen the Chancellor of the Exchequer is considering this scheme, will he also speed up consideration of the much better and wider scheme of the Giro system in the Post Office?
§ Sir E. BoyleI thought that the hon. Gentleman might raise that point. I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General said in answer to the hon. Gentleman on 27th March.