§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest assessment is of the implementation costs of the Universal Bank. [70017]
§ Malcolm WicksContracts are in place between the Government and Post Office Ltd for the provision of the new card account at the Post Office. Elements of the set-up costs are included in the contract, but information on detailed implementation costs is a commercial matter for Post Office Ltd.
§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will make a statement on the progress of the Universal Bank towards meeting its April 2003 deadline for the provision of banking services to benefit claimants; [70014]
(2) what progress is being made with the Universal Bank; and if he will make a statement; [70018]
(3) what his assessment is of the viability of the April 2003 implementation date for the Universal Bank; [70019]
(4) what contingency plans are in place should the April 2003 deadline for the payment of all benefits via automated credit transfer not be met. [70020]
§ Malcolm WicksI refer the hon. Member to the Written Answer given to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on Friday 5 July 2002,Official Report, column 630W.
598W
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownInformation on the destination of people leaving New Deal 50 plus is not available. The only measure of participation in the programme is the number of people who move into work and claim the programme's in-work financial support, the Employment Credit. Up to April 2002, nearly 70,000 people had been helped into work through New Deal 50plus.
The information on the other New Deals is in the table. In addition to those leaving for unsubsidised employment, independent surveys have shown that a significant proportion of leavers to unknown destinations also find work. For example, over 50 per cent of people leaving New Deal for Young People for unknown destinations move into work.
§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of benefit recipients received their benefit payments via automated credit transfer in each year since the introduction of ACT. [70013]
§ Malcolm WicksI refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare (Mr. Brian Cotter) on 26 February 2002,Official Report, column 1263W.