§ Mr. Tim Smithasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what responses he has received to the Government Green Paper on the reform of building societies.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThe Government have received about 150 representations from a wide range of individuals and organisations. I should like to express the Government's gratitude to all who have responded. The comments are now being considered and the Government will be reaching final decisions in due course. I recently discussed some of the themes to have emerged from these representations in an address to a seminar organised by the Westminster and City programmes on 25 October, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.