§ Mr. Terry FieldsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will consider paying income support directly into claimants' bank accounts or building society.
§ Mr. ScottThe facility to have benefit paid directly into a bank account is restricted to beneficiaries paid by computer because a transfer of magnetic tapes is required to effect the payment to a bank. As income support is paid clerically in most local social security offices, an automated payment facility cannot be made available at present.
However, we anticipate that when the computerisation of income support is completed next year, we will be able to offer this facility as part of our scheduled programme of improvements.