§ Mr. Maxwell-Hyslopasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will give a detailed account of the disbursements from the fund set aside to augment the incomes of sub-postmasters following the reductions in their earnings on commission as a result of the alterations made by the Government in arrangements for drawing pensions weekly from the post offices; and specifically whether arrangements have or will be made to use this resource for financing the recommendation of the Select Committee on Industry and Trade that any sub-post office which wishes to offer the vehicle licence renewal service to the public, should be permitted to do so.
§ Mr. ButcherSo far there have been no disbursements from the fund as the alterations in the arrangements for paying social security benefits have only recently begun to be implemented, and the effect of any loss of business takes some time to be reflected in sub-postmasters' incomes.
As the purpose of the fund is to compensate sub-post offices adversely affected if new business does not grow at the same rate as DHSS business is lost, it is not envisaged that it will be used to finance the extension of the availability of facilities for the renewal of motor vehicle licences at a larger number of sub-post offices.
On the recommendation of the Select Committee on Industry and Trade that all sub-postmasters who are prepared to issue motor vehicle licences should be permitted to do so, the Department is considering this recommendation and will be responding to the Committee in due course.