§ Mr. AshdownTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his estimate of the number of post offices which receive(a) 25 per cent., (b) 50 per cent., (c) 75 per cent. and (d) 100 per cent rate relief, for the latest year for which statistics are available; what plans he has to change the funding of, and guidelines for, such rate relief; and if he will make a statement. [110791]
§ Ms ArmstrongThe number of post offices receiving rate relief is not held centrally. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
We have no plans to change the funding or extent to which rural post offices can qualify for rate relief under the village shop rate relief scheme.
The Prime Minister announced on 21 October 1999, Official Report, column 630W, the Post Office Network Project, to identify the contribution made by post offices to the vitality of local communities, consider how the Post Office Network can best contribute to the Government's objectives in the future and in the process formulate objectives for the Post Office Network.