HC Deb 21 August 1916 vol 85 cc2315-6W
Mr. D. WHITE

asked the Postmaster-General what are the numbers of, and the aggregate credit balances belonging to, those accounts in the Post Office Savings Bank that have not been operated upon during the last 40, 30, 20, and 10 years, respectively?

Mr. J. PEASE

There are no figures available to enable to give a Return in the precise form asked for. The only accounts which can be regarded as dormant in the Savings Bank ledgers are those in which the balance is less than £1, and in which there has been no transaction for at least five years. During the fifty-three years to the 31st December, 1914, these accounts have totalled to 4,233,444, with an average balance of about 2s. each. These small amounts appear to have been left with the object of keeping the account open, and have been subsequently neglected. The number of dormant accounts with balances over £1is believed to be inappreciable.