§ 2. Rev. Martin Smyth (Belfast South) (UUP)Whether an equality assessment was made of the impact of the decision not to pay double pensions through the Post Office bank account in Northern Ireland for 12 July. [180481]
§ The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Mr. John Spellar)Customers paid by direct payment have their accounts credited on the last banking day prior to the holiday in all cases.
As that arrangement did not change with the introduction of the Post Office card account, there was no requirement to conduct an equality impact assessment.
Direct payments due to credit accounts on 12 or 13 July 2004 will be credited on 9 July.
§ Rev. Martin SmythI am amazed by that answer, because postmasters and others have been in touch with me about the impact of the decision and the misleading guidance of the Bank of England, which states that 12 July must be viewed as a local holiday whereas 17 March and the Scottish day at the beginning of the year are also local holidays. Is it not passing strange that the Bank of England, which owes its existence to the Williamite revolution, targets us for commemorating it?
§ Mr. SpellarI thank the hon. Gentleman for that brief historical journey. However, on pensioner benefits, those who were due to be paid on 12 and 13 July, which is a local bank holiday, as he rightly says, will be credited on 9 July. They will therefore get their money slightly early.