§ Mr. Geoffrey Finsbergasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he now has to publish the Page Report on National Savings; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BarberThe Report of the Page Committee on National Savings is being published today. I should like to record my gratitude to Sir Harry Page and the members of his committee for undertaking such a major task.
The report makes a large number of recommendations to which we have now given preliminary consideration. We shall need to consult a number of organisations, including the National Savings movement and the Trustee Savings Banks 219W Association, before reaching final conclusions.
There is, however, one point on which I should like to state the Government's general position from the outset. The Government do not accept the recommendation that the voluntary National Savings movement should be wound up. Not only has the voluntary National Savings movement a long and distinguished record of service to the community, but we believe that there is a valuable and constructive rôle for it to play in the future. Changes will be needed to bring this rôle into line with the conditions of the 1970s. We shall discuss these changes with the National Savings committees.