HC Deb 31 October 2001 vol 373 c706W
Mr. Waterson

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices were closed in each quarter of each financial year for 1979–80 to 2000–01. [10134]

Ms Hewitt

I understand from Post Office Ltd. that compilation of post office closure statistics on a quarterly basis was only introduced last year. The available quarterly figures for net post office closures are:

  • October to December 2000–135
  • January to March 2001–113
  • April to June 2001—119.

Total closures for the year to March 2001 were 547. Of these, four were classified as permanent.

A £2 million fund to support relocation and refurbishment initiatives by volunteer or community groups to maintain or reopen post office facilities in rural areas where the traditional post office is closing received parliamentary approval in July.