Examination of Witnesses (Questions 1040-1044)
ED BALLS,
MR CLIVE
MAXWELL AND
MS SUE
CATCHPOLE
22 MAY 2006
Q1040 Chairman: Does the Treasury
have overall responsibility for the Financial Inclusion Fund of
£120 million, for how that is spent and the results achieved
and whether the objectives are met or not?
Ed Balls: I believe the answer
to that is yes.
Q1041 Chairman: So you are in charge,
there is no problem?
Ed Balls: I believe so.
Mr Maxwell: We are in charge,
with individual departments, spending the money for which they
are responsible. The Treasury is in charge of the overall strategy
of making sure that the different elements of that strategy add
up to something that works.
Ed Balls: I think that was yes.
Q1042 Chairman: We can decode that
at a later date at our leisure. Joined-up thinking and approaches
are very important?
Ed Balls: Very, very important.
Q1043 Chairman: On that note, can
I thank you for your attendance. Earlier on the shorthand writers
asked me to spell "stuchie" and "rammy", which
they now have. Stuchie and rammy, for your information, is nothing
less than a stramash. If you are quite happy with that, I am fine.
For the record, you mentioned Colin Cowdery and it is Clive Cowdery.
Ed Balls: I apologise for that.
Q1044 Chairman: Lastly, Minister,
I look forward to working with you on the Cash Machines Taskforce.
Ed Balls: Could I just say that
this is very, very important work for us and obviously has a read-across
on the particular issues we have been discussing here because
of the Link issue as it affects the Post Office. I am looking
forward to further discussions on that.
Chairman: Thank you very much. Thank
you for your time, Minister.
| 
