19. Mr. Gareth R. ThomasTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further action he is taking to develop the credit union sector. [3342]
§ Ruth KellyThe Government support credit unions' ethos of self-help and thrift, and believe that by offering savings and affordable loans, particularly to the less well-off, they can make a valuable contribution in the area of increasing access to financial services. That is why the Government have been involved with a number of initiatives to help the sector grow, but ultimately every credit union's future rests in the hands of the members and the dedicated volunteers who run them.