§ Mr. David HeathTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what plans she has to intervene to prevent the closure of Crown post offices and their replacement by franchised facilities when such closures are not supported by the local community. [1560]
(2) if she will intervene to stop the proposed closure by Post Office Counters Ltd. of Frome Post Office and its replacement by franchised facilities. [1559]
§ Mr. Ian McCartneyI announced on 16 May a comprehensive review of options for implementing the Government's election manifesto pledge to grant the Post Office greater commercial freedom. In the context of this review, I also announced that the Post Office had, at my request, agreed to suspend its programme of converting Crown post office to agency status—except where irreversible contractual commitments already existed—until we are in a position to make informed decisions. The proposal to convert the Crown post office in Frome has therefore been suspended.