§ Mr. LoughtonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the Government's target for the savings ratio by private investors; and by what date. [21341]
§ Mr. Geoffrey Robinson[holding answer 17 December 1997]: Although there is no explicit target for the saving ratio, the Government want to encourage long-term 246W savings and investment. The pursuit of economic stability is central to this goal. Moreover, the introduction of the new Individual Savings Accounts in 1999 will spread the savings culture by bringing the benefits of existing tax-favoured provision to a much wider population of savers.