East Belfast Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle said: “Presbyterian Mutual Society savers have shown remarkable patience and whilst I am aware of the UK Government working group established to report on this issue in the autumn, action is needed now.
“PMS savers include older and more vulnerable people in our society and they need access to finance to cover home heating costs and to service increasing debt on care arrangements. The delay in resolving this matter is beginning to seriously affect the physical and mental health and wellbeing of many people in our community.
“In the absence of a solution to this problem many of the community services provided by Presbyterian congregations with finance tied up in the PMS are also under threat.
“Naomi Long MP and I will continue to do all we can to ensure savers are treated fairly and will be seeking a commitment from the Prime Minister and Chancellor that they will set a time frame for publication of the working group report, exhaust all commercial options for the PMS and rule out any means tested system for final payments.
“The UK Government was quick to rescue our banks in time of crisis and despite flawed governance of the PMS we expect the same speed and level of assistance for savers in our local community.”
ENDS