§ Mr. RendelTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of benefit payments made to pensioners were paid by automated credit transfer in the most recent year for which figures are available; and if he will provide a comparable figure for the payment of benefits by automated credit transfer to non-pensioners. [88109]
§ Angela Eagle[holding answer 24 June 1999]: I have been asked to reply.
In the year ending 31 March 1999, 14.5 per cent. of all Retirement Pension and Widows Pension payments were made by automated credit transfer (ACT). The percentage of Retirement Pension and Widows Pension clients receiving payment by ACT as at 31 May 1999 was 43 per cent.
In the year ending 31 March 1999, 15 per cent. of all benefit payments made to clients in receipt of benefits other than Retirement Pension and Widows Pension were 168W paid by ACT. The percentage of clients receiving benefits other than Retirement Pension and Widows Pension by ACT as at 31 May 1999 was 28 per cent.
The reason for the difference between the percentage of payments made by ACT and the percentage of clients being paid by ACT is that, in general terms, clients who are paid by ACT receive payments less frequently than those clients paid by order book or girocheque.