§ Ms Estelle MorrisTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken to assess the effect on sub-post offices of the plans to encourage payment of pensions and benefits through banks and building societies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeighThe option to have pensions and child benefit paid into a suitable bank or building society account has been available for a number of years, and will be extended to a range of other benefits in line with the commitment in the citizens charter. My Department considered with Post Office Counters Ltd. last autumn the likely impact that encouragement of this method of payment might have on the sub-office network and concluded that it would not have a significant effect on total business.