asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she will arrange for firms with less than 200 and more than 20 employees to pay insurance stamp costs direct by cheque.

Irrespective of size, a firm can pay by cheque if authorised to use a machine for impressing stamps on insurance cards. Other arrangements for paying contributions by cheque rely on systems of accountancy more elaborate than those usually found among the smaller firms, but I am considering whether some limited extension is practicable and will write to my hon. Friend.