asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 19 June (WA 64), how the Department for Work and Pensions will provide help and support for customers unable to open a bank account because of disability, old age or illness and who are ineligible for assistance of the sort provided by sub-postmasters and mistresses in opening a Post Office card account.[HL6668]

This will depend on the needs and circumstances of the customers concerned and the range of account options that are available as customers move from Post Office card accounts to having their benefit or pension paid into a bank account or a new Post Office product. Our priority will be to ensure that this is a straightforward process for the customer. Customers who have managed to open and operate a Post Office card account should be able to do the same with at least a basic bank account. As we have done in the past, supportcould, where appropriate, include helping customers complete an application form to open a bank account and obtaining the required documents to prove their identity.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the evaluation report on the pilot schemes for the migration of Post Office card account holders to banking facilities has been published.[HL6670]

My honourable friend James Plaskitt will make a Written Ministerial Statement and place a summary report of our findings in the Library in due course.