§ 21. Mr. Croninasked the Postmaster-General how many Post Office employees in the Windsor area have declined or expressed reluctance to do work in connection with Premium Bonds on conscientious or other grounds; and how many similar incidents have occurred among Post Office employees in other areas.
§ Mr. K. ThompsonOne at Windsor and 38 in other areas.
§ Mr. CroninDoes the hon. Gentleman not agree that it is a pity that the Government have a somewhat lower moral standard than their employees, and will he undertake to treat with proper indulgence all other cases where there is conscientious objection to being actively associated with Premium Bonds?
§ Mr. ThompsonThe hon. Gentleman might have acquainted himself with the fact that we already do that where cases of objection arise.
§ 25. Sir J. Lucasasked the Postmaster-General if he will make it possible for holders of Premium Bonds to have any prizes won paid in to their banking accounts direct in the same way as company dividends, since cheques sent direct to people who travel much may easily be lost.
§ Mr. K. ThompsonThe claim forms for prizes down to £50 already invite the holder to say whether he wants the money paid direct to his bank. The £25 winners will be given the same option, beginning with the third draw next month.
§ Sir J. LucasI thank my hon. Friend very much, but is he aware that the bank had not heard of that the other day, and neither had the Post Office?
§ Mr. ThompsonI expect that the Question of my hon. Friend and my Answer will draw the attention of everyone to this.
§ 29. Sir J. Lucasasked the Postmaster-General what percentage of the cheques for the first months Premium Bond draw have been cashed; what percentage is still unpaid; and what efforts are being made to find the owners of those still unpaid.
§ Mr. K. ThompsonClaims for payment are still coming in. At present, 120 are outstanding. This is well under 1 per cent. of the total. We are writing again to those concerned.
§ Sir J. LucasIs my hon. Friend aware that it would be much cheaper and better to pay the money direct into a bank, if people ask for that to be done, as dividends are?
§ Mr. ThompsonI have answered Question No. 29, to which my hon. Friend's supplementary question does not appear to relate.
§ 30. Sir J. Lucasasked the Postmaster-General what he proposes to do with prize money on Premium Bonds which is not claimed within a reasonable period; and whether he will consider giving it to the Red Cross organisation.
§ Mr. K. ThompsonMy right hon. Friend is required by the Premium Savings Bonds Regulations, 1956, to transfer such moneys to the National Debt Commissioners for custody until claims are made. There is no time limit for claims. Any question of changing these provisions is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
§ Mr. LiptonCould not this unclaimed money be better used by making it unnecessary to introduce a 3d. postal rate for letters?
§ Mr. ThompsonI hate to speculate upon the better use to which the hon. Gentleman might put any money entrusted to him.