HC Deb 25 May 1995 vol 260 cc693-4W
Mr. Etherington

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list, by town or city and region, all his Department's research trials, conducted since 1990, aimed or associated with trials testing procedures to prevent the fraudulent encashment of instruments of payment, giving(a) the cost of each trial, (b) the target population, (c) the period of trial, (d) other joint/collaborative agencies and (e) schemes involving incentive payments to participants. [24985]

Mr. Arbuthnot

This information is laid out by geographical area since January 1994, the first date for which information is available. No specific target population was sought, since this was not an important factor in any of the trials.

Devon

  • Hole punching of order books by Postmasters prior to their return to BA offices, to render them valueless.
  • Cost: £ Nil
  • Period: 05 September 1994–02 December 1994
  • Other agencies: Post Office Counters Ltd.
  • Incentive involved: No

Sunderland

  • Identity trial
  • Cost: £ Nil
  • Period: 06 March 1995 due to end 03 June 1995
  • Other agencies: Post Office Counters Ltd.
  • Incentives involved: No

London and Clyde Valley

  • Secure delivery order books
  • Cost: £ Nil
  • Period: 10 October 1994–02 December 1994
  • Other agencies: Post Office Counters Ltd.
  • Incentives involved: No

London

  • Alert-Computerised system to prevent fraudulent encashment of lost or stolen order books.
  • Cost: £2.4 million
  • Period: 30 November 1992–31 August 1994
  • Other agencies: Post Office Counters Ltd.
  • Incentives involved: No

London

  • Secure delivery of order books
  • Cost: £21,936
  • Period: 22 March 1993–02 April 1995
  • Other agencies: Post Office Counters Ltd. and Royal Mail
  • Incentives involved: No

Manchester

  • UV lamps—Post Office use
  • Cost: £11,808
  • Period: 04 July 1994–31 August 1994
  • Other agencies: Post Office Counters Ltd
  • Incentives involved: No

Birmingham

  • Post Office Reward Scheme
  • Cost: £18,594
  • Period:25 October 1993–29 August 1994
  • Other Agencies: Post Office Counters Ltd
  • Incentives involved: Yes

Midlands Area

  • Post Office Reward Scheme
  • Cost: £95,931
  • Period: 30 August 1994–ongoing
  • Other agencies: Post Office counters Ltd.
  • Incentives involved: Yes