Laws offers to help wi out of their funding jam

Today David Laws joined with members of the Yeovil WI market as they battle against a massive hike in fees they have to pay. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) now expect a payment of £240 from every branch which organises a market – rather than the £25 they have been paying.

The hike of nearly 1000% came after Government have transferred the regulation of the local markets from the Registrar of Friendly Societies to the FSA.

After David met members at the Yeovil WI branch he promised to take the issue further and raise it with the FSA and Government Ministers directly.

“The Yeovil, Chard and Crewkerne WI markets are valued institutions in the towns,” said David.

“I will be arguing that the FSA’s actions are very heavy handed. It seems absurd that our local WI market needs to be regulated by a body more used to monitoring multi-national corporations. People who regularly buy cakes and jam will think it barmy that the local market now has to pay such extortionate fees for registering the society”

Category: Constituency News