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Benefit Claimants: Post Office Card Accounts
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How benefit claimants will be transferred from the current paper-based Post Office system to the new electronic Post Office card account; and [HL2515]
Whether benefit claimants may expect to be issued with new electronic Post Office card accounts according to (a) their surname, (b) the benefits they receive, (c) where they live and (d) some other system. [HL2516]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Baroness Hollis of Heigham): The move to payment direct into bank/building society accounts between 2003 and 2005 will, broadly, be organised according to benefits received. And through universal banking services there will be Post Office access to a range of bank accounts.
The emphasis of our payment direct into bank/building society accounts migration and marketing strategy will be to ensure that each customer has the best account for his or her circumstances. The vast
majority of claimants already have a suitable existing bank account and we expect that they will choose to use them when they start to be paid by this method. If customers do not have a suitable bank account, we will provide them with information on the types of account available, including standard and basic bank accounts and Post Office card accounts, and help them make the best choice for their circumstances.
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether claimants to more than one benefit will be transferred to an electronic Post Office card account earlier or later than claimants to a single benefit. [HL2517]
Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The move to payment direct into bank/building society accounts, whether into a Post Office card account or any other type of account, will not be affected by the number of benefits received.
Benefit Claims
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Mr Wicks on 17 January (HC Deb, 361W), how much of the £54 billion of benefits paid in 2000–01 through the Post Office was paid in the form of more than one benefit per claimant. [HL2518]
Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The information is not available in the format requested.
Belfast: European Capital of Culture Bid
Lord Blease asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport will visit Belfast soon in connection with that City's European Capital of Culture 2008 bid.[HL2578]
The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Blackstone): My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport will not be making visits to any cities solely in connection with a bid for the Capital of Culture title. DCMS Ministers will, however, continue to visit for other reasons. My right honourable friend visited Belfast in October 2001 but she currently has no plans for a further visit.
Parliamentary Estate: Accommodation for Sinn Fein Members
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What representation they received from the Government of the Republic of Ireland concerning the provision of office accommodation in the Parliamentary Estate for Sinn Fein Members of Parliament.[HL2188]
The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn): The Irish Government have at no point made representations on their own behalf on this matter, although it has featured in discussions between the two governments as an issue known to be of concern to Sinn Fein.
Drumcree Protest: Cost of Security Arrangements
Lord Eames asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the current cost of security arrangements associated with the continuing dispute at Drumcree.[HL2209]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: There are currently no police deployed solely for the purpose of Drumcree. However, current police deployments do address the protest, particularly in the evenings and the Sunday parade.
Based on the current level of policing the protest, the monthly cost is £54,250.
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