CHILD TRUST FUNDS

That this House notes the excellence of the Child Trust funds, the opportunities they provide to young people to start life with assets and capital and the high take-up across the country; further notes that they are linked to the Stock Exchange; further notes that they are currently coming under extreme pressure and many parents are anxious that their contributions have been lost by the fluctuating Stock Exchange; further notes that even though they will not mature until the child is 18 years parents are worried now; and therefore calls on the Government to underwrite both the initial Government start-up amount and any parental or family contributions made before the child's 10th birthday and for this to be reflected on the regular statements that parents and guardians receive.