Post Office Card Accounts

HC Deb 19 November 2003 vol 413 cc1072-3W

Mr. Alan Reid

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners receive their state pension by means of(a) direct payment into a bank or building society account, (b) direct payment into a Post Office card account and (c) a pension book. [114677]

Mr. Pond

The information has been complied form data available on 6 September 2003.

The number of live accounts in payment of State Pension (RP) at 6 September 2003 paid by:

(a) Direct Payment into a Bank or Building Society Account:	4,860,832
(b)Direct Payment into a Post Office card account:	10,476
(c) a pension Book:	4,327,440
(d) Other (Payable Order, GIRO):	49,630

The above table does not include Retirement Pension paid with another benefit, for which an analysis of the method of payment is not available.

The numbers being paid by direct payment are expected to grow rapidly in the coming months as 20 week order books begin to expire and customers begin to receive payment into their chosen bank, building society and post office card accounts.