§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many sub-post offices have(a) closed and (b) been opened, in Wales, in each of the last five years. [33486]
§ Mr. Ian McCartneyI understand from the Post Office that data on the numbers of sub-post offices opened and closed in Wales in each of the last five years are not available. Only since the end of the 1996–97 financial year has it been possible for them to disaggregate accurately the numbers of post offices in the Marches and other adjacent areas of England from those in Wales. In total there was a net closure of 18 sub-post offices in Wales between end March 1997 and March 1998.