HC Deb 14 July 1993 vol 228 cc1085-6 10.24 pm
Mr. Hugh Bayley (York)

I beg leave to present a petition against the removal by the Government of the right to receive pension and benefit payments at local sub-post offices.

The petition was collected by sub-postmasters and postmistresses and by pensioners and claimants in York, to whom I pay tribute. It is signed by county councillor Janet Lucker, of Clifton Dale, York, and by L. W. Quinn, the secretary of York Labour party, of Bramble Dene, Woodthorpe, York. The petition is supported by me and it reads as follows: To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland assembled. The Humble Petition of the people of York Sheweth that the Government is proposing to make compulsory the method of paying pensions and other benefits by Automated Credit Transfer and that we, the undersigned, vigorously protest against this proposal for the following reasons:

  1. (1) The small post office is very often the hub of the community, performing a very important social service.
  2. (2) Many small post offices rely on paying pensions and other benefits to survive.
  3. (3) Many people rely on the post office to cash their benefits and in some cases may not have a bank account.
  4. (4) Compulsory payment of benefits by automated credit transfer takes away choice from people.
The petition is signed by 9,367 of my constituents and concludes with the following words: Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House will urge the Secretary of State for Social Services to give people the right to choose to receive pension and benefit payments at their local post office, recognising the benefits of this to the individual and community. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

To lie upon the Table.

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