asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider adopting a similar system for national retirement pensions to that used by the Paymaster General's Department for crediting public service pensions to National Giro accounts.

The Government are considering proposals prepared in consultation with Sir Derek Rayner for changing the arrangements for paying social security benefits. This consideration will include the possibility of beneficiaries having their benefits paid direct into bank acounts, if they so choose, and the scope for wider use of National Giro-bank by beneficiaries. It must be for beneficiaries to decide whether to use such payment methods when they can be made available.