HC Deb 31 October 2002 vol 391 cc964-5W
14. Dr. Julian Lewis

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the future of the rural post office network. [76432]

17. Mr. Simmonds

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the future of the rural post office network. [76436]

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will announce her proposals for financial support of the rural post offices network; and if she will make a statement. [77866]

Mr. Timms

The Government are committed to the maintenance of a nationwide network, and placed a formal requirement on the Post Office in November 2000 to prevent all avoidable closures of rural post offices. We have received advice from Postcomm on the proposals for supporting the rural network from 2003, and details of substantial financial support will be announced shortly.

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the future of the rural post office network.

Mr. Timms

[holding answer 29 October 2002]: We have received advice from the Postal Services Commission on proposals for supporting the rural network from 2003 and details of substantial financial support will be announced shortly.

The Government has already invested in modernisation comprising some £480 million to computerise the whole post office network. We have made available a £2 million fund to support volunteer and community initiatives to maintain or reopen post office facilities in rural areas where traditional services would otherwise close. Figures for end September 2002 showed that 168 applications—to a value of £825,000—had been assessed and approved and to that date payments of £529,000 had also been made.

The Government is committed to the maintenance of a nationwide network of post offices and placed a formal requirement on the Post Office in November 2000 to prevent any avoidable closures of rural post offices.

21. Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has on the post office network. [76441]

Mr. Timms

The Department receives representations about the post office network from numerous sources reflecting the valuable role post offices play in their communities. The Government are committed to ensuring that the post office network has a thriving future.

Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Post Office is to be bound by the Urban Counter Cover Obligation; how this obligation will be assessed, and by whom; and if she will make a statement. [77486]

Mr. Timms

A condition of the offer of funding for Post Office Limited's (POL) urban reinvention programme is that upon completion of the programme, there is a post office branch within a mile of not less than 95 per cent. in aggregate of the urban population of the UK.

If POL fails to comply with this obligation, the Government may vary or withhold funding of the programme. POL's implementation of the programme will be monitored by the DTI.