HC Deb 26 November 1968 vol 774 cc99-100W
Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state his practice and future plans to bring notice of their successes to persons whose names are drawn as premium bond winners; how many of these winners have not been found or identified; and what has become of the sums to which they are entitled.

Mr. Stonehouse

We write to all winners individually. If there is no answer, the local Head Postmaster makes inquiries. In addition to Press publicity for the larger prizes, all winning numbers are published each month in the London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes. Copies of the Gazettes are exhibited in all the larger Post Offices; every quarter a list is included of prizes that have been unclaimed for eighteen months or longer.

Of prizes won up to April, 1968, 3,958, or .08 per cent. are still unclaimed; later prizes are still being followed up. Prize money unclaimed for two years is trans- ferred to the National Debt Office but there is no time limit for claiming prizes.

Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he has taken, and plans to take, to ensure that his system of selecting premium bond winners is accurate and fair.

Mr. Stonehouse

ERNIE is regularly tested and the prize lists are constantly analysed to ensure that the distribution of prizes is statistically fair. The processes for identifying winning holders from the bond files are fully safeguarded and meticulously operated. We shall continue to take the greatest care over the whole conduct of the draw.

Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the amount and growth of the Pemium Bond Fund since is was initiated; whether he will seek to broaden its base of contributions and winners; and if he will state the relative number of persons who have and have not won anything since premium bonds were first started.

Mr. Stonehouse

Premium Bond holdings totalled£675 millions at the end of October, 1968 and the amount of the November prize fund was£2.3 million. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer keeps the terms of the scheme continually under review. The recent introduction of a£25,000 weekly prize has considerably enhanced its popularity.

I regret that the answer to the final part of the Question could not be obtained without a disproportionate expenditure of time and effort.