HC Deb 15 July 2003 vol 409 c160W
Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the(a) gross and (b) net marginal cost to the Government is of the opening of (i) 1, (ii) 100, (iii) 1,000 and (iv) 100,000 post office card accounts. [125278]

Mr. Pond

[holding answer 11 July 2003]I have been asked to reply.

Our working assumption is around 3 million post office card accounts will have been opened by 2005. However, there is no cap on numbers and anyone who wants to open an account can do so. Present indications are that the final number will be significantly above three million. The precise cost at any given level of take-up is commercial in confidence to Post Office Ltd. and is not released in line with paragraph 13, part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government information.

Joyce Quin

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which urban post offices in the North East of England(a) have closed in each of the last three years and (b) are being proposed for closure. [126063]

Mr. Timms

This is a matter that falls within the operational responsibilities of Post Office Ltd. and I have asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to my right hon. Friend.

Mr. Hepburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Post Office Card Accounts have been(a) applied for and (b) opened in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) the UK. [125728]

Mr. Timms

The information is not available in the format requested. National figures only are available.

I understand from Post Office Ltd. that by 20 June 2003, 57,000 Post Office card accounts had been opened. By that date I further understand from the Department for Work and Pensions that 430,000 customers had opted for a Post Office card account.

Mr. Steen

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will provide a full reply pursuant to the holding answer she gave on 18 June 2003 regarding post offices, ref 119723. [126154]

Mr. Timms

I replied in full to the hon. Member's question on 23 June 2003,Official Report, column 564.