§ LORD AIREDALEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they can confirm the truth of a report in the Press on June 26 that:
The Treasury has agreed to weekly paid civil servants getting an extra shilling a week if they agree to have their money paid through the Post Office Giro system. This will boost the Giro in its initial period of operation …
and if so, whether they regard this as an instance of fair competition between the banking activities of the State and of private enterprise.]
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, this matter has been under consideration but no decision has yet been made. The position of weekly paid civil servants who may prefer other methods of payment is being borne in mind.
§ LORD AIREDALEMy Lords, I am obliged to the noble Lord for that Answer. May we be assured that weekly paid civil servants may bank where they like without fear of being made worse off than their colleagues who bank with the State?
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, I do not think anyone has ever suggested anything to the contrary.