§ Mr. Clifford ForsytheTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of benefit payments paid by(a) order book, (b) Girocheque, (c) automated credit transfer and (d) payable order during the year 1989–90.
§ Mr. HanleyThe information requested is as follows:
Number (a) order books 29,589,904 (b) girocheques 3,999,309 (c) automatic credit transfers 492,579 (d) payable orders 83,780 The payable order figure relates only to payments of retirement and widows benefits. Another 118,724 payable orders were issued but benefit payments cannot be disaggregated from the total of administrative and benefit payments.