HC Deb 02 May 2000 vol 349 c39W
Mr. Dobbin

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of benefits have them paid(a) into a bank account and (b) through the Post Office. [120098]

Mr. Rooker

As at November 1999, 9.1 million (about 36 per cent.) of all benefit recipients were receiving payment directly into a bank account, and 16.1 million (around 63 per cent.) were collecting payment by order book or girocheque at the post office. The remaining 1 per cent. was paid by other methods of payment into banks, for example, payable orders and a small proportion of girocheques paid into bank accounts.