§ 33. Mr. Ronald Atkinsasked the Postmaster-General if he will establish in rural areas post offices, provided that they would be centrally and conveniently situated, on railway stations, as in one case on the Kyle line, and in bus stations, especially where the public service vehicles carry the mail.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterWe try to site our rural offices as conveniently as possible, but they have to be at places where someone is available to run them. Some offices are at railway stations but the number has decreased with changes in railway services. Places with bus stations usually have shopping centres which give the most convenient sites for post offices.
§ Mr. AtkinsMay I thank my hon. Friend for that Answer and ask him if he is aware that the integration of some social services in some rural areas would not only reduce total costs, but increase their efficiency?
§ Mr. SlaterThere are still a number of stations where the stationmaster acts as 573 the sub-postmaster. This number has been reduced in recent years by the station closures.