FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

That this House congratulates friendly societies on their long-standing dedication to working within local communities and trades, to help people with limited financial resources to take personal responsibility for their financial well-being; recognises that access to long-term savings for many lower income households relies on a strong friendly society sector; and calls on the Government to act now to help friendly societies to extend their support to the less affluent by increasing the limit on payments into the Tax Exempt Savings Plan to at least double the current £25 per month maximum.