HC Deb 21 July 1998 vol 316 cc494-5W
Mr. Chope

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the answer of 9 July 1998,Official Report, column 640, how many post offices have been paying child benefit by payment card for more than three months; and if she will estimate the savings which have accrued. [51499]

Mr. Field

All 204 post offices involved in the limited trial have been paying Child Benefit by Payment Card for more than three months. We estimate that the new system, which includes an Order Book Control Service, has, to date, achieved £1 million in fraud savings.