§ Miss Geraldine SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Universal Bank will be available to people Who hold a bank account. [149658]
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonUniversal Banking Services has two elements. Under the first element the banks will make their basic bank accounts accessible at post offices. The second element of the proposition is a service for people who are unable or unwilling to open even a basic bank account. This account, available only through post offices will allow benefits claimants to access their benefits in cash at a post office using a Post Office based card instead of an order book or giro. Both basic bank accounts and the Post Office card accounts will be available to people with an existing bank account. The Post Office card account will, however, be available only to persons in receipt of pensions, benefits or tax credits. Beyond that there are no plans for there to be any other eligibility restrictions.
Tony WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if people who(a) have and (b) do not have a bank account will be able to open the new Post Office-based Universal Bank service account. [149847]
21W
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonThe Post Office card account will only be available to persons in receipt of pensions, benefits and tax credits. Beyond that there are no plans for there to be any other eligibility restrictions.