Written question asked by John McDonnell (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 April 2005. It was answered by Chris Pond (Labour) on Monday, 4 April 2005 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Dept for Work and Pensions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to suspend payments to claimants of benefits until they provide bank details; how many jobseeker's allowance claimants in (a) Sheffield and (b) the UK have had their benefits suspended until they have agreed to have their benefit paid into a bank or post office account.

Answer: John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what plans he has to suspend payments to claimants of benefits until they provide bank details; [224056] (2) how many jobseeker's allowance claimants in (a) Sheffield and (b) the UK have had their benefits suspended until they have agreed to have their benefit paid into a bank or post office account. [224057] Mr. Pond: No payment has been suspended in Sheffield or elsewhere for failure to provide account details and currently there are no plans to do so.

Secondary information