§ Mr. ViggersTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many weekly pensions paid by post constitute a lesser sum than the stamp used to despatch them.
§ Mr. BurtI understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. It would, however, be very exceptional for payment to be made in this way.
If the payable rate of retirement pension is £2 per week or less, payment is made once a year in arrears and usually paid by automated credit transfer. The annual payment is made shortly before Christmas by the Benefits Agency in Newcastle and includes payment of the Christmas bonus.