§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many supermarkets currently designated for closure by their owners contain franchised Post Office Counters outlets. [27259]
§ Mr. Heseltine[holding answer 6 June 1995]: The Post Office is not aware of any such cases.
§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those Post Office Counters outlets which have been relocated from Crown post offices to franchised outlets and which have subsequently been transferred to other premises, with a statement of the reason in each case. [27258]
§ Mr. Heseltine[holding answer 6 June 1995]: I understand from the Post Office that there have been two such cases involving franchised post offices in Sutton in Ashfield and in Cinderford. At Sutton in Ashfield, the host store closed down but, in accordance with the terms of the franchise contract with Post Office Counters Ltd., the post office remained open until a suitable alternative partner and site were found. At Cinderford, the original franchisee took on the outlet on the same site as the previous Crown office with a view to changing premises later. In the event, the franchisee was unable to do this and, after a brief period of being run by Post Office Counters staff, the office was franchised to another agent at a different site.