Mr. MACLEANasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many associations are affiliated to the National Savings Committee; how many of these were responsible for collecting money during 1922: the number of organisers employed by the National Savings Committee and the minimum and maximum salaries paid; what is the percentage of saving certificates issued through the associations affiliated: and whether he will consider the advisability of transferring the control and work of this Committee to the Post Office Department?
Mr. YOUNGThe number of active savings associations in England and Wales is approximately 20,000, and it is estimated that about 30 per cent. of the total sales of single certificates, amounting to many millions a year, are made on the instalment plan worked by these associations.220W Apart from this, the associations indirectly affect the purchase of certificates not paid for by instalments. The operations of the associations are carried on by many thousands of voluntary workers. The number of organisers employed by the National Savings Committee, which is directly under the Treasury, is 54, of whom 40 receive not exceeding £400 per annum, and the remaining 14 from £500 a year to £700 a year plus bonus. I do not think this work can with advantage be transferred to the Post Office, whose functions are limited to the sale of certificates outright over the counter, making repayments and accounting, and do not include organising.