Mr. Bellasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many sub-post offices were closed by the Post Office in England, Scotland and Wales in 1982; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many proposed closures of sub-post offices in 1982 were deferred after the Post Office had taken into account representations from the local community; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what was the average saving to the Post Office on the closure of a sub-post office within its jurisdiction in 1982; and if he will make a statement;
(4) whether Her Majesty's Government have any plans to privatise the Post Office, or any of the services it provides through sub-post offices.
Mr. TrippierDecisions about opening and closing of individual sub-post offices are matters for the Post Office as part of the corporation's day-to-day operational responsibility for the network.
There has been a pattern of change in the sub-post office network over the years as the Post Office has opened and closed sub-post offices to reflect changes in population distribution, retirements and other factors. In making decisions on the future of specific sub-post offices the Post Office carefully reviews relevant factors and keeps local interests informed in accordance with the code of procedure agreed with the Post Office Users National Council in 1981.
In the financial year 1982–83, 172 sub-offices in England, Scotland and Wales were closed, of which 81 closed because there was no applicant with suitable premises. During the same period 90 sub-post offices opened, giving a net reduction of 82. The average saving to the Post Office from each sub-post office closure was about £6,000. In some cases a decision to close a sub-post office was deferred pending consideration of fresh evidence from the local community, but meaningful data on the extent of such deferrals in 1982–83 are not available.
The possibility of privatising all nationalised industries in whole or in part is kept under review. There are no immediate plans to privatise any part of the Post Office.
Sub-post offices are, of course, already operated by private business men as agents of the Post Office.