§ Mr. RosindellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post office card accounts have been opened. [104018]
§ Mr. TimmsBeyond those used to pilot the new service no Post Office card accounts have yet been opened. The intention is to gradually build up (starting from April 2003) the number of benefit customers and pensioners that we pay through the Post Office card account. Approximately 106,000 customers have already chosen a Post Office card account and the issue of Personal Invitation Documents to those people, to start the account opening process, will begin on schedule at the end of March. DWP customers who have opted for a Card account but have not yet opened that account will continue to be paid by order book or giro as appropriate.