Oral Answers to Questions Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Gareth Thomas Excerpts
Tuesday 14th November 2023

(12 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Watch Debate Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Jeremy Hunt Portrait Jeremy Hunt
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

That was a very nice try, but my hon. Friend will have to wait for a week.

Gareth Thomas Portrait Gareth Thomas (Harrow West) (Lab/Co-op)
- View Speech - Hansard - -

Opt-out savings are a little like auto-enrolment in pensions. They help those on lower incomes to save for a crisis—for the proverbial rainy day. Given that more than 9 million people in this country are in work with no savings at all, will the Chancellor note the impressive results of a small trial of the opt-out savings system in Manchester, and encourage its expansion?

Jeremy Hunt Portrait Jeremy Hunt
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

I would be happy to do that. The hon. Gentleman is right: if we are to grow faster as an economy, the other side of the coin is we that need to save more, and we should be encouraging everyone in all income groups to do so.