§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made in respect of paying Department of Health and Social Security benefits via banks rather than post offices; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PrenticeI have nothing to add to my hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Huntingdonshire (Mr. Major) on 18 January.—[Vol 976, c.885–6.]
§ Dr. Edmund Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many transactions his Department conducted with members of the general public through post offices during the latest year for which a reliable estimate of the figure can be given.
§ Mrs. Chalker[pursuant to her reply, 22 January 1980]: On the basis of 1978 information, it is estimated that some 1,000 million separate payments of social security benefits are made each year through post offices. For some people, more than one benefit is included in their payments.