Banking Services (Hansard, 3 April 2000)

§ Mr. Rooker

I have been asked to reply.

Over 80 per cent. of all benefit recipients have bank accounts. Estimates from the 1997–98 Family Resources Survey are that 28 per cent. of individuals in Great Britain who are in receipt of Income Related Benefits do not have access to banking services and 38 per cent. of individuals in Scotland in receipt of Income Related Benefits do not have access to banking services.

Notes:

1. The source of the data used to answer the question is the Family Resources Survey (Great Britain only). The latest year for which data are available is 1997–98.
2. The estimates are based on sample counts, which have been adjusted for non-response using multipurpose grossing factors that control for region, Council Tax band and a number of demographic variables. Estimates are subject to sampling error and to variability in non-response.
3. The figures given have been rounded to the nearest whole per cent.
4. For the purposes of answering this question, income related benefits (IRBs) are taken to be Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based), Family Credit. Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Disability Working Allowance and Social Fund Grants.
5. Where two people are living together as husband and wife and they are in receipt of one or more IRBs between them, it should be noted that one of the couple claims the benefit(s) on behalf of both individuals. However, both individuals are regarded here as being in receipt of the benefit(s). Therefore, for such couples, the access of both recipients to banking facilities has been considered, as opposed to solely those of the claimant.
6. For the purposes of this analysis, an individual's access to Banking facilities has been defined as whether or not they have in their name (on a sole or joint basis) any one of a Current Account, a Post Office Ordinary/Investment account or any other type of savings/bank account held with either a hank or a Building Society.