§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the average annual closure rate of sub-post offices(a) in 1997 to 2001 and (b) between 1979 and 1997. [292]
§ Ms Hewitt[holding answer 25 June 2001]: Taking into account conversions of Crown offices to agency offices, which are then classified as sub-post offices, the net annual average rate of sub-post office closures from March 1979 to March 1997 was 196, and from March 1997 to March 2001 it was 351.
§ David MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library the guidance, regulations and circulars relating to the levels of service which the Post Office must maintain in rural areas. [2742]
§ Mr. AlexanderCopies of the licence granted to Consignia plc on 23 March 2001 by the Postal Services Commission (Postcomm) by virtue of section 11 of the Postal Services Act 2000 were placed in the Library of the House in April. Section 4 of the Postal Services Act 2000 lays down the statutory minimum service which must be provided for the universal postal service in the United Kingdom.
I am placing in the Library of the House copies of Postcomm's direction designating exceptional conditions and circumstances (relating to the universal postal service) under condition 1 of Consignia plc's licence.