§ Mr. AshdownTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the effect on sub-post offices' assigned office payments of the Government's plans to pay benefits and pensions directly into bank accounts starting in 2003; if he will estimate the effect on assigned office payments for each of the years(a) 2002–03, (b) 2003–04, (c) 2004–05, (d) 2005–06 and (e) 2006–07; and if he will make a statement. [109468]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 10 February 2000]: The ability of the Post Office to continue making assigned office payments to subpostmasters is governed by the income levels it receives from its clients, such as the Benefits Agency, for undertaking work on their behalf.
The effect on Post Office income of payment of benefits and pensions direct into bank accounts from 2003 depends on the detailed plans for the migration. The Post Office's ability to finance assigned payments will depend on its overall level of income from all sources, including new and additional business opportunities generated by the Horizon automated system.