§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners in the United Kingdom currently(a) draw their state retirement pension at a post office and (b) have it paid into a bank or building society. [29724]
§ Mr. HealdThis is a matter for Peter Mathison, chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 21 May 1996:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many pensioners in the United Kingdom currently (a) draw their state Retirement Pension at a post office and (b) have it paid into a bank or building society.As of 31 March 1996, the latest date for which figures are available, 6,105,653 pensioners collect their Retirement Pension at the post office and 3,126,053 pensioners are paid direct into a bank or building society account. A further 279,995 pensioners receive payment by payable order which subsequently will be paid into a bank or building society account. These figures are provisional and subject to amendment.I hope you find this reply helpful.