§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many post offices and sub-post offices there are; what were the figures 20 years ago; what is their estimated profit in each case; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlin[holding answer 13 April 1994]: I understand from the Post Office that the numbers of branch post offices and sub-post offices were as follows:
Number of offices February 1994 March 1974 Branch offices 850 1,607 Sub-post offices 18,968 22,276 In 1992–93, Post Office Counters Ltd., which is the subsidiary of the Post Office responsible for post offices, made a profit on ordinary activities before taxation of £24.9 million. In 1973–74, the Post Office was a very different organisation, covering telecommunications and Girobank services, as well as the constituent parts of the existing business. The accounts were not structured in a way which allows the profitability of what is now Post Office Counters Ltd. to be distinguished from other parts of the operation.