§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish any estimates made by the Post Office of (a) the number of additional personal accounts likely to be opened with National Giro and (b) the number of additional transactions likely to be transacted on National Giro accounts at post offices if claimants are able to have national retirement pensions or other social security benefits credited direct to a National Giro account.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallThe National Girobank would expect to attract a proportion of new accounts if recipients were able to have national retirement pensions or other social security benefits paid direct into bank accounts. I understand, however, that the Post Office has not made estimates of the likely number of new personal accounts which would be opened with National Girobank or of the number of additional transactions likely to be undertaken through National Girobank accounts at Post Offices.