§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in theOfficial Report the proportion of each of the main benefits paid to recipients by credit transfer over the last five years.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe information required is shown in the following table:
Proportion of retirement pensioners and child benefit recipients paid by credit transfer Retirement pension per cent. Child Benefit per cent. December 1984 8.63 2.57 December 1985 10.75 4.45 December 1986 12.95 6.30 December 1987 14.65 8.00 December 1988 17.30 11.11
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to promote credit transfer as opposed to post office counter transactions; what budget is allocated to the promotion of credit transfer; what recent representations he has received from the Post Office about the potential effect on the financial viability of rural sub-post offices; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter LloydAll existing retirement pensioners have been invited by letter to opt for payment by credit transfer. By February 1989 similar invitations will have been sent to all recipients of child benefit. New claimants to retirement pension and child benefit are offered a choice of payment by credit transfer or order book. No specific 63W budget is allocated to the promotion of credit transfer. Any such costs are met from the social security publicity budget of £12.77 million for 1988–89. No representations have been received recently from the Post Office about the potential effect of credit transfer on the viability of rural sub post offices.