§ Sir F. Markhamasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make Premium Bonds eligible for prize drawings within one month of purchase instead of six months as at present.
§ Mr. BarberNo. If the qualifying period were reduced, people would be readier to cash their holdings and the scheme would attract shorter-term money, so reducing its value as an inducement to genuine small savings.
§ Sir F. Markhamasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider lumping together all unclaimed Premium Bond prize money to form a special prize of at least £10,000.
§ Mr. BarberThere is no limit on the time in which Premium Bond prizes can be claimed, and it would therefore be wrong to appropriate the unclaimed prizes for any other purpose.