§ Mr. BarnesTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what use his Department and its agencies make of postcode areas for the collection of data and in formulas for the distribution of grants and awards; and when such usages were last reviewed. [14800]
§ Mr. Greg KnightPostcodes are used to define the area covered by a survey of electricity and gas prices paid by industrial users in four United Kingdom cities in order to meet the requirements of an EU directive 9013771EEC. They are also used to fix the location of businesses within local authority areas and travel-to-work areas which determine eligibility for grants and awards. The Department does not otherwise use postcode areas in the collection of data and in distributing grants and awards.