To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the exceptions service will be post office based. [114359]
We are currently developing an alternative payment method to pay customers who are unable to open or manage an account. Payment outlets for this service will include post office branches.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will break down the cost of the new direct payment advertising campaign (a) by year and (b) by types of media used. [114360]
A budget of up to £25 million is available for the Direct Payment campaign, spread over a three-year period (2002–03 to 2004–05).Advertising media and production costs for the last financial year (2002–03) total £1,462,000. This figure breaks down as follows:
| Radio media | 383,000 |
| National press media | 225,000 |
| Regional press media | 250,000 |
| Production across all media | 604,000 |
| TV media | 1,319,000 |
| Radio media | 560,000 |
| National press media | 509, 000 |
| Regional press media | 599, 000 |
| Magazine media | 259, 000 |
| Ambient media | 189,000 |
| Production across all media | 194,000 |
Advertising costs for the remainder of this financial year and for next year are not yet available as the detail of the campaign is still in the process of development.
All figures quoted in this answer are exclusive of VAT.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions have taken place with the Financial Ombudsman on the direct payment of benefits; and if he will make a statement. [114373]
The Department"s officials regularly meet with a range of interested groups, including the Financial Ombudsman Service, to discuss the move to Direct Payment.