§ 41. Mr. Russell Kerrasked the Postmaster-General what criteria are applied by his Department in determining the suitability of an area for a post office rather than a sub-post office.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterThe main criterion is the provision of an adequate service by the most economic means. Because the overheads are normally shared by the private business, sub-post offices are generally more economical than Crown offices and it is not now our policy to provide Crown offices except in large shopping and commercial centres.
§ Mr. KerrIs my hon. Friend aware that the sub-post office facilities in Bed-font, in my constituency, which has a population of about 12,000, are wholly inadequate and, indeed, recently were wholly non-existent? Will his Department reconsider the recent decision to refuse a full Crown post office for Bed-font?
§ Mr. SlaterI know of the interest that my hon. Friend has had in this matter by the way he has pursued it over the last few weeks. I must, however, tell him that when the previous sub-postmaster gave notice, we had difficulty in finding a successor. To provide continuity of service, a new office had to be opened at short notice. I recognise that 1474 the accommodation so hastily provided last month was not at first satisfactory, but it has now been improved and the sub-postmaster is planning to extend his premises. I sincerely hope that what has already taken place and what is to be done will improve the services in my hon. Friend's constituency.