§ Mr. ChallenTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether provision will be made in the review of the urban and rural post office network for the provision of disabled access for those offices that need them. [68070]
§ Mr. TimmsAs a matter of general policy, provision for disabled access to post offices will be taken into account in reviewing the future structure of the network. Compliance with the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act at any specific post office location is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. in respect of Crown offices and of the individual subpostmaster in respect of sub post offices.
I have been informed by Post Office Ltd. that subpostmasters have been provided with packs enabling them to audit their own offices for Disability Discrimination Act compliance and that advice will be provided by Post Office Ltd. throughout this process.
§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list, by region, the post offices that are accessible by the disabled; and what proportion these post offices comprise of the total in their respective region. [68533]
§ Mr. TimmsAccessibility for the disabled at post offices is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. together with individual subpostmasters and I have asked the chief executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.