§ Mr. GOULDasked the Postmaster-General if he is prepared to allow working-class people to deposit their savings in the Post Office Savings Bank up to any amount; and, seeing that the Post Office Savings Bank is the only form of investment many working people understand, is he prepared to adopt more reasonable and easy facilities for withdrawal?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHThe limits of deposit in the Post Office Savings Bank have been removed for the period of the War and six months thereafter by Section 7 (1) of the War Loan (Supplementary Provisions) Act, 1915. I am not yet in a position to say whether those limits will be reimposed at the expiration of the period specified. I am not aware of any demand for an alteration in the methods of withdrawal from the Savings Bank, which I believe to be well understood by depositors.
§ Mr. GOULDasked the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that the same encouragement is not given to poor people and small depositors to invest their money in the Post Office Savings Bank at the same rate of interest as is paid to purchasers of War Bonds, he will cause inquiries to be made?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHThe matter was fully considered in January, 1916, by the 1207W Committee on War Loans for the Small Investor, whose Report is printed in Cd. Paper 8179. I would also refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister to question 77.