§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) which social security benefits and in what circumstances his Department will pay directly into the National Giro account of the claimant if this method of payment is requested;
(2) when he expects to be able to start paying retirement pensions directly into a National Giro account where this method of payment is requested by a pensioner.
§ Mr. OrmeSocial Security benefits cannot at present be paid directly into National Giro accounts. The possibility of arranging for payments of retirement pension and certain other long-term social security benefits to be made directly into National Giro and bank accounts has been studied by a joint working party of officials of my Department and representatives of National Giro, the Inter-Bank Research Organisation and Bankers' Automated Clearing Services Ltd. I hope to receive its report shortly, which will enable me to take a decision in principle on whether to introduce such a system and, if so, to announce a timetable for implementation.