§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances the Government have decided to withdraw Civil Service staff support to the voluntary savings movement in the London borough of Hillingdon; what estimate he has made of the ability of the Hillingdon Committee to continue its work without such support; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Denzil DaviesAll the Civil Service staff support to the voluntary savings movement, including that in the London borough of Hillingdon, are being withdrawn by 31st March 1978 as part of the cuts in public expenditure on Civil Service manpower and related costs, announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Civil Service Department on 29th July. We believe that even without its support staff the voluntary movement, including the Hillingdon Savings Committee, will still have a worthwhile role to perform, particularly in the schools and in industry. A steering group of the National Savings Committee is currently considering how the voluntary movement might adapt to the new situation and when the group has reported we shall be glad to discuss with the movement what its future role should be and to consider what continuing Government support might be appropriate.