§ Mr. Powellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if social security offices are authorised to pay benefits in currency which is not legal tender in the United Kingdom.
§ Mrs. CastleNo specific instructions have been issued to social security offices about the currency to be used for the payment of benefit and none is considered to be necessary. Social security offices generally make the vast majority of payments by giro-cheques or order books which are cashed at post offices but there are also occasional cash payments. In Northern Ireland all payments are made by giro-cheque or order book.