§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the major banking groups in Northern Ireland regarding access to bank accounts at post offices. [145310]
§ Mr. TimmsI have been asked to reply.
All the major banking groups in Northern Ireland are playing a full role in universal banking services at the Post Office, making their own basic bank accounts accessible at post offices and contributing towards the costs of the Post Office card account. Whether they provide access to other accounts at post offices is a commercial matter between the individual banks and the Post Office. I would welcome all banks making all their current accounts accessible at post offices for the benefit of their customers.
§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have opened a Post Office Card Account. [145311]
§ Mr. TimmsI have been asked to reply.
I understand from Post Office Ltd. as of 5 December 2003, 1,165,147 Post Office card accounts had been opened.