§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many(a) new and (b) existing benefit payments have been transferred to (i) bank accounts and (ii) Post Office Card Accounts in 2003, 1615W broken down by region; and what percentage of (A) new and (B) transferred benefit payments this represents in each case. [160218]
§ Mr. PondThe number and percentage of new benefit payments, broken down by region, then bank or building society and Post Office Card Account methods of payment is shown in the following table:
Government Office Region Number of payments paid into a Bank or Building Society Account Percentage of payments paid into a Banker Building Society Account Number of payments paid into Post Office Card Account Percentage of payments paid into a Post Office Card Account North East 14,145 55.98 730 2.89 North West 35,275 58.23 1,425 2.35 Yorkshire and Humberside 25,595 60.57 1,010 2.39 East Midlands 20,580 64.91 750 2.37 West Midlands 28,405 63.09 1,115 2.48 East of England 26,510 69.53 640 1.68 London 30,870 62.57 1,045 2.12 South East 34,230 70.62 730 1.51 South West 22,570 65.97 670 1.96 Wales 16,170 56.96 680 2.40 Scotland 27,220 56.79 1,110 2.32 Total 281,570 62.39 9,905 2.19 The number and percentage of transferred benefit payments, broken down by region, then bank or building society and Post Office Card Account methods of payment (of the new payment):
Government Office Region Number of payments paid into a Bank or Building Society Account Percentage of payments paid into a Bank or Building Society Account Number of payments paid into Post Office Card Accounts Percentage of payments paid into a Post Office Card Account North East 20,850 60.06 11,390 32.81 North West 45,625 63.25 20,070 27.82 Yorkshire and Humberside 31,885 64.15 14,340 28.85 East Midlands 25,655 66.87 10,565 27.54 West Midlands 32,030 64.48 14,425 29.04 East of England 25,780 70.44 8,475 23.16 London 31,045 69.57 8,840 19.81 South East 33,660 72.84 9,415 20.37 South West 22,400 65.73 9,195 26.98 Wales 19,195 66.57 6,605 22.91 Scotland 32,415 65.48 12,950 26.16 Total 320,540 66.17 126,270 26.07 Notes:
1616W
- 1. Figures produced by comparing two snapshots of live accounts in payment at 27 December 2003 and 24 January 2004.
- 2. Figures refer to accounts not claimants. Therefore, if a benefit recipient was in receipt of two benefits via different accounts, these would both be included in these figures, but if a claimant received multiple benefits through one account then this would only be counted once.
- 3. Figures refer to GB benefit recipients only.
- 4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.
- 5. Some payments made into Bank and Building Society accounts allow access to cash, at Post Office branches.
The statistics represent accounts paid by each method of payment. As many customers have already provided their account details it is expected that the figures for Direct Payment into bank or building society accounts and Post Office Card Accounts will quickly rise, as customers existing methods of payment expire, and they move over to payment being made direct into their nominated account.
The statistical information detailed in this response has been obtained from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Information Centre, Information and Analysis Directorate.