§ Mr. Macfarlaneasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the industrial dispute at the Durham National Savings and Save As You Earn office which is preventing investors from withdrawing savings; and if he intends to operate emergency centres for the small investors to obtain their savings.
§ Mr. Denzil DaviesI regret very much the inconvenience, anxiety or hardship caused to investors in national savings certificates and Save As You Earn who wish to withdraw their savings but are unable to do so because of industrial action being taken by members of the Society of Civil and Public Servants and the Civil and Public Services Association. This action has halted the operations of one of the Departments for national savings computers. The delayed applications for repayment will be processed as quickly as possible once normal working is resumed. At present there are very 225W limited facilities at the Savings Certificate and Save As You Earn Office, Durham, for dealing with urgent repayments, but the Government have no plans for opening emergency centres for this purpose.