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Written question asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 14 October 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 16 October 2009. It was answered by Helen Goodman (Labour) on Wednesday, 4 November 2009 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Post Office Card Account: Fife

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of state benefit payments to residents of North East Fife constituency were paid into Post Office card accounts in each of the last five years.
Answer

The figures are not available in the format requested.The following table shows the precise number and percentage of benefit accounts paid into Post Office card accounts in the North East Fife constituency in each of the last five years. Benefit accounts will have multiple transactions and may include payment of more than one state benefit.

All payment types All POCA Percentage paid by POCA
2004 23,900 1,580 7
2005 24,120 4,900 20
2006 26,630 5,110 19
2007 26,810 4,870 18
2008 27,310 4,540 17
Notes:
1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10, percentages to the nearest whole per cent.
2. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
3. Figures are as at September in each of the five years, 2004 to 2008.
4. Figures refer to payment accounts. Customers with more than one account will be counted for each account.
5. All benefits and pensions are included but child benefit is administered by HM Revenue and Customs and War Pensions are now administered by MOD. These benefits have therefore been excluded.
6. 2004 was a transitional year in the move from order books to Direct Payment
Source:
DWP, Information Directorate, 100 per cent. data

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
498 c1088W; 293977
Session
2008-09
Subjects
Post office card account Fife
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk