§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 24 May 1999,Official Report, column 47, on housing benefit, what charges are made by the Post Office for not redirecting benefit-related mail in a local authority's area. [86066]
§ Angela EagleFurther to my written answer on 24 May 1999,Official Report, column 47, in which I stated that 56 local authorities are now operating the do not redirect service, I am pleased to confirm that this number has now increased to 64 local authorities. The Post Office does not make any charges to individual local authorities for not redirecting benefit-related post. However, the Department has agreed an annual fee with the Post Office for the national operation of this service. For the first year's operation of the do not redirect service this fee is set at £366,266.