HC Deb 17 December 2003 vol 415 cc977-9W
Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the evidence he used to derive the statement that the Post Office Card Account costs public funds at least 30 times more than direct payments into a bank account for clients of Job Centre Plus; and if he will publish the evidence. [144395]

Mr. Pond

I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Mrs. Clark) on 15 December 2003,Official Report, column 685–86W.

The actual costs remain Commercial in Confidence. Information that is held on a commercial in confidence basis is withheld in line with the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, part 2, paragraph 13.

Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what discussions he has had with(a) the Department for Trade and Industry and (b) the Royal Mail on the advice that he is offering to Job Centre Plus clients about moving to direct payments; [144396]

(2) what the basis is for the Department's advice to Job Centre Plus clients that the Post Office Card Account is not the best option for direct payment; [144397]

(3) if he will publish the targets and benchmarks for the Department regarding the number of Job Centre Plus clients whom they wish to move to direct payment, broken down by (a) current accounts, (b) basic bank accounts and (c) Post Office Card Accounts. [144398]

Mr. Pond

All Department for Work and Pensions information on Direct Payment account options is based on the Government policy in this area which was set out by my hon. Friend the former Minister of State for the Department for Trade and Industry on 17 December 2001,Official Report, column 119–120W.

Jobcentre Plus staff have recently been reminded of the need to ensure that new customers are paid by Direct Payment (including the Post office card account) from the outset of their claim. This advice was intended to equip staff with the factual information they need to provide to customers in order for customers themselves to choose the account which best meets their needs and circumstances. The Post Office card account will not be the best option for them as it cannot receive payments of wages. Post Office Ltd. have also had the opportunity to comment on DWP information material for our customers, including leaflets.

Customers are being provided with all the information they need on all of their account options, including those accounts, which can be used at Post Office branches. It will be up to the customers themselves to decide which type of account they wish to have their money paid into.

The Department has a published Public Service Agreement (PSA) target that, by 2005, 85 per cent. of customers will have their benefits paid by Direct Payment. There are no targets for the number of customers paid directly into a standard current account, basic hank account and Post Office card account.

John Barrett

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions who is eligible for the direct payment exceptions service. [142837]

Mr. Pond

We have always recognised that there will he a small number of people who we cannot pay directly into an account. Our plan is to design an exceptions method of payment to properly meet the needs of customers in these circumstances. It is anticipated that it will be a cheque-based solution. Payment outlets will include Post Office branches. We are in the process of discussing the design of the exceptions method of payment with the representative bodies most directly affected.