HC Deb 31 October 2002 vol 391 cc962-3W
9. Mr. David Stewart

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to promote the use of the Post Office card accounts in rural and urban post offices. [76426]

Mr. Timms

The post office card account is one of a range of accounts which people will be able from next year to receive benefit payments into. Our aim is that people should be able to choose the option which suits them best. Information about all the options is being supplied to customers by the Department of Work and Pensions and the Inland Revenue.

29. Mr. Weir

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to ensure that persons with disabilities can make full use of the post office card account. [76449]

Mr. Timms

Benefit and tax credit recipients, including those customers with disabilities, will be offered a range of account options to enable them to receive their money once payment directly into a bank or building society account (including the card account) becomes the normal method of payment from April 2003. The post office card account has no overdraft facilities and is limited to direct payment of benefits, pensions and tax credits by Government agencies only but this limited functionality will attract some individuals because of its simplicity. A second card will also be available for use by a nominee for those customers unable themselves to collect their money at the post office. This facility may be of assistance to some customers who are disabled.

Mr. Robathan

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made as to whether the Post Office card account will pass the Government's proposed CAT standard. [76339]

Mr. Timms

The Government have no plans to produce a CAT standard for the Post Office card account. The card account is the only account of its type, quite distinct from current accounts and basic bank accounts. It is a very simple account for benefit, pension and tax credit recipients. Its functionality is limited to the crediting by Government agencies of benefits, pensions and tax credits, and the withdrawal by the customer of those monies at post offices.