§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he intends making any changes to the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987, regulation 21(1), allowing for payment into a claimant's account by way of automated or other direct credit transfer;
(2) if he will give the number of direct credit transfers made for income support and for invalidity benefit, for the latest available year;
(3) what instructions his Department issues to staff receiving a request for a direct credit transfer where an automated credit transfer cannot be made.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThere are no proposals to change the Social Security (Claims and Payments) 307W Regulations 1987 affecting payment of benefit by credit transfer. Arrangements are not yet available for payments of income support or invalidity benefit to be made by credit transfer which is at present restricted to beneficiaries paid by computer. The Department's staff are aware of these arrangements.