§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will issue guidelines laying down minimum standards of accessibility for the elderly and disabled when post offices are relocated.
§ Mr. ForthNo. This is an operational matter for the Post Office. I understand that all new main post offices are176W designed to allow wheelchair access and access for disabled people is one of the factors taken into account where Crown offices are converted to agency or sub-offices. For existing buildings the Post Office aims to provide a level or suitably ramped approach wherever practicable.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list in theOfficial Report information available to him on those post offices in the Border region which have had their opening hours reduced or other services curtailed in the last 10 years.
§ Mr. ForthThis is an operational matter for the Post Office board. I understand that the information requested is not immediately available, so I will ask the chairman of the Post Office board to write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will review the consultation procedures currently adopted by Post Office counters when offices are downgraded or relocated to enable objections to be made to and heard by his Department when any such proposals for change are made.
§ Mr. ForthRegrading and relocation of post offices are operational questions for the Post Office. I understand that it has agreed a code of practice on post office regrading with the Post Office Users National Council.