§ Dr. George TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Government's support for the post office network. [133922]
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonThe Post Office has been urgently developing plans to implement the recommendations of the PIU report on network modernisation. Subject to validation by a robust business case, Government support will be available for modernising and maintaining the rural network, restructuring of the urban network, establishing and operating universal banking services and pilot trials for the development of Government General Practitioner and internet access and learning point facilities. Under the Spending Review, as the first stage of modernising the post office network, ring-fenced support of £270 million over the next three years has been allocated for new investment to start the implementation of the PIU report.