HC Deb 24 July 2002 vol 389 cc1550-1W
Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last met(a) the National Federation of Sub-postmasters and (b) Postwatch to discuss plans for the move to automated credit transfer from April 2003. [70016]

Malcolm Wicks

Department of Trade and Industry ministers and officials meet the NFSP. Department for Work and Pensions officials also meet the NFSP and Postwatch.

Mr. Crausby

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to ensure that recipients of benefits who do not choose to have benefits paid by automated credit transfer will retain the option of payment by order book. [73299]

Mr. McCartney

Paying benefits and pensions directly into accounts provides a safe, convenient, more modern and efficient way of making payments. The number of customers paid by this way increased by 800,000 in 2001.

We will start to move customers to payments into their accounts in 2003. In doing so, we will gradually phase out order books and girocheques.

The introduction of universal banking services means that there should only be a very small number of people who cannot genuinely obtain a suitable account, including accounts which can be used at post offices.

Mr. Willetts

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which advertising agency has won the contract to publicise automated credit transfer; and how much the contract is worth. [72425]

Malcolm Wicks

We have appointed Miles Calcraft Brigginshaw Duffy to work on development of the information campaign which will aim to give customers the factual information they need about the choices they have as we reform the way we pay benefits and pensions.

The advertising agency has been procured via the COI Communications framework contract. The advertising agency will receive commission based on the amount of work undertaken. As the campaign is currently being planned it is not possible to say how much the contract will be worth to the advertising agency.

Mr. Willetts

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which banks can receive benefit payments on behalf of their customers through automated credit transfer. [72424]

Malcolm Wicks

All the UK banks and building societies offer accounts which can receive payments through automated credit transfer.