HC Deb 04 May 1999 vol 330 cc359-60W
Mr. Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will estimate the number of girocheques lost nationally every week; [82626]

(2) if he will estimate the number of Girobank benefit cheques reported lost each week. [82569]

Mr. Timms

The information requested is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available shows that there is an average of 7,263 girocheques reported as either not received, lost, stolen or destroyed, nationally each week.

Mr. Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of girocheques are cashed(a) in post offices and banks and (b) in shops which offer to cash cheques on the spot. [82625]

Mr. Timms

Of the total number of girocheques cashed, 93 per cent. are cashed at post offices and 7 per cent. are presented to banks or building societies for clearance. Information on the proportion of the latter, which have initially been cashed in shops which offer to cash cheques on the spot, is not available.