HC Deb 25 July 1946 vol 426 c190
4. Sir William Darling

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why the production of an identity card is necessary to open a Savings Bank account while no such formality obtains in most banking institutions of the country and seeing that this formality is calculated to discourage savings through direct Government channels.

The Assistant Postmaster-General (Mr. Burke)

I know of no banking institution in the country which will open an account with less formality than the Post Office, and the holder of a Post Office Savings Bank account is able to operate on it at any one of the 18,000 Post Offices in this country which transact Savings Bank business. As explained in my answer to the hon. Member on 24th June, the Post Office requires the production of the identity card in order to assist in preventing accounts being opened for the purpose of fraud. This requirement, which is a simple and expeditious method of establishing the bona fides of the applicant, has been accepted by the vast majority of the people who normally bank with the Post Office and there is no evidence that the requirement discourages savings.

Sir W. Darling

Is the Assistant Postmaster-General prepared to consider adopting the wholly satisfactory method of private banking institutions, which dispenses with the use of identity cards? Is it right that the State should show this spirit of uncharitable suspicion towards its citizens, while private enterprise does not?

Mr. Burke

No unnecessary uncharitable suspicions are shown. This is to protect the people's money.