§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the National Savings Bank considers it necessary to ask adult depositors for their date of birth on Form S.B. 8H(C); when this practice began; and what provision is to be made for savers who do not wish to give this information.
§ Mr. Denzil DaviesThe National Savings Bank asks depositors to enter their date of birth on the declaration 311W made when opening a new account, or when an existing account is transferred to the computer system. The information is used in the records of the centralised headquarters of the Bank as an aid to identification of depositors—for example if a bank book is lost—and for no other reason than identification. The practice was introduced in July 1968 when new accounts were first opened in the Bank's computerised system. A depositor is not pressed for details of his date of birth if he does not wish to give them.