§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress being made by the Money Management Association working party, announce the appointment of its new chairman and give a timetable for the completion of its work.
§ Mr. Denzil DaviesYes. The proposal for a possible money management association is rooted in the Government's belief, following its decision to withdraw the whole-time support staff of the National Savings Voluntary Movement, that certain aspects of the latter's work not primarily directed to the promotion of National Savings and largely undertaken by voluntary workers, has been of value and should, if possible, be continued. Those aspects were the educational work of the movement in schools and places of employment. A working party was established, therefore, to consider the practicality of creating a new organisation charged with fostering education in money management and the encouragement of savings, in the widest sense, in schools and places of work. A new chairman has recently taken over, following his predecessor's retirement from the service, and it would be premature at this stage to indicate a timetable for the completion of work. Progress so far has been hindered by the lack of consensus among the parties to the Working Party on the size, form and objectives of the projected Association.