§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices have(a) opened and (b) closed since 1979 by county, and if he will list them. [55726]
§ Mr. Ian McCartneyI understand from the Post Office that, from the end of March 1993 to date, 583 sub-post offices have opened and 1,614 have closed. I have asked for a more detailed breakdown of these data and will place a copy in the Library of the House as soon as possible.
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§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if redundancy packages of sub-postmasters/mistresses who have lost their jobs following closure of their sub-post offices take into consideration(a) loss of future earnings and (b) capital lost from their business as a result of closure. [55771]
§ Mr. Ian McCartneySub-postmasters are not employees of the Post Office, but are independent self-employed agents operating under a contract for services with Post Office Counters Ltd. I understand from the Post Office that this contract may be terminated by either party upon three months notice with no financial penalty on either side. Consequently, sub-postmasters do not receive redundancy payments in the event that their post office closes, or relocates to alternative premises.
I also understand that a Discretionary Payment Fund exists from which payments may be made to sub-postmasters in these circumstances provided that all eligibility criteria for consideration for such a payment are met. Each application is considered on its merits. This fund is jointly managed by Post Office Counters Ltd. and the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters. It is not part of the contract for services between the sub-postmaster and Post Office Counters Ltd.
§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints he has received from sub-postmasters/mistresses over(a) the manner in which their sub-post offices were closed down and (b) the post office appeal procedure; and what action was taken to deal with such complaints. [55772]
§ Mr. Ian McCartneyMy Department occasionally receives representations about the termination of a sub-postmaster's contract with Post Office Counters Ltd. and the associated appeal procedure, but has no locus to intervene in such contractual matters.