§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent his Department makes use of Giro facilities; what is the estimated annual value of such Giro transactions; and what regular consideration is given to extending the use of Giro.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonThe Treasury uses Giro facilities for the payment of salaries, wages and pensions at the request of the recipient. Currently, 52 salaries and pensions are paid monthly and 198 wages are paid weekly in this way. The estimated annual value of these transactions is about £600,000. The Treasury is ready at all times to extend the use of 545W Giro facilities at the request of recipients. More generally, consideration is given periodically to extending the use of Giro in other ways, but the scope for so doing is very limited.