Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 1 December 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 7 February 2005. It was answered by Chris Pond (Labour) on Monday, 7 February 2005 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Dept for Work and Pensions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to increase the extent to which the availability of the Post Office cheque payment service is advertised.

Answer: Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to increase the extent to which the availability of the Post Office cheque payment service is advertised. [202752] Mr. Pond: I have been asked to reply. There are no plans to do this. Direct Payment is now the normal method of payment for benefits and pensions. The Government have always made it clear that there would be an alternative for the minority of people who are genuinely unable to be paid by Direct Payment into an account. The cheque payment was therefore designed in consultation with a range of customer representative groups and detailed information about it was circulated to them and to all hon. Members in May of last year. At the end of the conversion process those customers who have not provided account details will automatically be moved to the cheque method of payment, which can be cashed at a Post Office, or can be paid into a bank account.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 202752; 430 c1264W
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Cheques Payments Publicity Post offices Social security benefits State retirement pensions
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk