§ Sir A. Broughtonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he proposes to improve the Government organisation in support of National Savings.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsI have been considering with the Chairman of the National Savings Committee in England and Wales, and with the Chairman of the National Savings Committee for Scotland, measures to improve the support given to the voluntary workers in these organisations and the services given to savers generally.
I have decided to integrate the Civil Service staffs serving both Committees with that of the Department for National Savings to form a single organisation. This will improve the links between the savings public, the voluntary workers, the field staff acting on behalf of the Committees, and the central staffs administering the savings services. It will help the co-ordination of promotional and publicity work in the Movement, with the policy and executive work of the Department. The independence of the Committees and their freedom to criticise and make suggestions will be fully preserved.
The Trustee Savings Banks are an essential part of the National Savings Movement and the field staff will act in support of these Banks in the same manner as hitherto.
I am most grateful to the two Chairmen, and to their Committees, for supporting me in this decision.