§ Lord Young of Dartingtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many officials in HM Treasury are concerned with affairs of building societies; what is the grade of the most senior official involved; and what were the management objectives of these officials for the year 1996–97.
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyBuilding society matters form a substantial part of the responsibilities of five Treasury officials. But, depending on the nature of the issue, many others, including members of the Treasury Management Board, will become involved.
The objective most relevant to their work is the ninth identified in the Government's Expenditure Plans for the Chancellor's Departments, 1996–97 to 1998–99 (Cm 3217): "maintaining a regime for the regulation of financial services which preserves a stable financial system, honest markets and the confidence of investors and depositors, while promoting an open, efficient and competitive financial services sector".