HC Deb 17 February 1993 vol 219 cc257-8W
32. Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will estimate the current value of the assets of the Post Office.

Mr. Leigh

The value of the Post Office's net assets at 27 September 1992, as reported in the 1992–93 half-year results, was £2,205 million.

Ms Estelle Morris

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many Crown post offices have been closed in each of the last five years; and what number of Crown post offices there are expected to be by the end of 1993.

Mr. Leigh

[holding answer 15 February 1993]: The figures requested are as follows:

Year Number of Crown office closures
1987–88 4
1988–89 6
1989–90 154
1990–91 172
1991–92 148
Up to 31 January 1993 57
Total 541

These outlets have been replaced by 529 new agency-operated outlets which offer the full range of transactions and in many cases extended hours of opening. The Post Office will continue to review the opportunities for conversion of Crown offices to agency status throughout 1993.

Ms Estelle Morris

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many(a) franchised post offices and (b) non-franchised sub-post offices there are expected to be by the end of 1993.

Mr. Leigh

[holding answer 15 February 1993]: There are at present 53 franchise post offices and 18,974 sub-post offices in operation. The Post Office will review opportunities for further franchise offices as they arise throughout 1993 and some modest increase can be expected. The number of sub-post offices is expected to be broadly similar at the end of 1993, although closures occur from time to time as a result of local circumstances. The Government are committed to the maintenance of a nationwide network of post offices.

Ms Estelle Morris

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many(a) crown post offices and (b) sub-post offices have become franchised sub-post offices in each of the last five years.

Mr. Leigh

[holding answer 15 February 1993]: Since 1990 42 Crown offices have been converted to franchise status operating in major retail outlets such as supermarkets and newsagents. Five existing sub-post offices have been upgraded to franchise status. There have also been six openings of franchise offices in entirely new locations. No franchise offices were opened before 1990.