HC Deb 16 May 1996 vol 277 cc541-2W
Mr. Donohoe

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much money the Post Office has generated from the introduction of agency status in(a) Scotland (b) throughout the rest of the United Kingdom in each financial year since the introduction of the policy. [28965]

Mr. Oppenheim

I understand from the Post Office that the recurring financial benefits, on a national basis, from the policy of converting crown post offices to agency status are as follows:

Net recurring benefits from that year's conversions
Year £ million
1989–90 4.4
1990–91 3.9
1991–92 4.1
1992–93 3.4
1993–94 3.9
1994–95 14.1
1995–96 13.9
1 Estimated.

Total cumulative recurring benefit: £27.7 million.

Separate figures for Scotland could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what criteria are used by the Post Office in assessing which crown post offices should be given agency status. [29066]

Mr. Oppenheim

I understand from the Post Office that it uses the following criteria in assessing crown post offices for conversion to agency status:

  • the customer service benefits of changing, eg longer opening hours, better location;
  • financial benefits;
  • ability to redeploy any surplus staff;
  • availability of a suitable partner to become agent.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what surveys the Post Office has carried out on the impact of agency status and franchising on the operation of former crown post offices. [29065]

Mr. Oppenheim

I understand that the Post Office has conducted regular customer opinion surveys of the offices that have converted to agency status. The results show that customers prefer the new agency offices, principally due to improvements in the office environment and longer opening hours.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many staff who formerly worked in crown post offices have left employment following the introduction of agency status. [28963]

Mr. Oppenheim

I understand from the Post Office that, when a crown post office is to be converted to agency status, staff are offered redeployment opportunities or voluntary redundancy terms. The total number of Post Office Counters Ltd. staff who have accepted voluntary redundancy since the introduction of the crown conversion policy is 4,288. It is not possible to say how many of those who opted for voluntary redundancy terms did so as a result of the conversion of crown offices to agency status.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many crown post offices in Ayrshire have been converted to agency status since the introduction of the policy; and how many crown post offices there are currently in Ayrshire. [28987]

Mr. Oppenheim

I understand from the Post Office that 13 former crown post offices in Ayrshire have been converted to agency status since 1989. At the end of April 1996, there were five crown post offices in Ayrshire.