§ 22. Dr. PalmerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the role of sub-post offices in supplying electronic services to local communities. [115681]
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonThe Government are fully committed to a nationwide network of post offices and are contributing nearly £500 million towards the cost of equipping the network with a modern, automated IT platform. The system will be installed at some 18,000 post offices throughout the country by spring 2001, to enable the Post Office to improve services and take advantage of new business opportunities. Creation of an extensive automated infrastructure will facilitate the use of the Post Office network as a delivery channel for electronic Government services.
238W
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to receive the Performance and Innovation Unit report on the sub-Post Office network; and if he will make a statement. [115769]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 22 March 2000]As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister indicated in his answer to the hon. Member for Torbay (Mr. Sanders) on 17 January 2000,Official Report, column 267W, the Performance and Innovation Unit's report on the Post Office network is expected to be completed this spring.