HC Deb 27 May 1993 vol 225 cc693-4W
Mr. Batiste

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessments he has made of the savings offered by photo-identity cards utilising smart card technology to reduce social security errors and fraud.

Miss Widdecombe

We have held preliminary discussions with Post Office Counters Ltd. about some potential proposals which it is considering to improve efficiency of payment of benefit through post offices and which would involve smart cards.