HC Deb 05 July 2000 vol 353 cc208-9W
Mr. Chidgey

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) rural and (b) urban sub-post offices operated unprofitably in the last financial year in each constituency in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland; and how many of these in each constituency will benefit from the new fund to improve the quality of post offices. [128749]

Mr. Alan Johnson

In its report on the Post Office network, the Performance and Innovation Unit has estimated that around 90 per cent. of urban sub-post offices operate profitably and that around 60 per cent. of rural sub-post offices operate unprofitably. I understand from the Post Office that they do not hold data by constituency for the numbers of urban or rural sub-post offices operating unprofitably.

Mr. Chidgey

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many urban and rural sub-post offices closed for avoidable reasons in the years(a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999. [128751]

Mr. Alan Johnson

I understand that the Post Office does not hold the specific data requested for causes of closure of sub-post offices. The Post Office seeks as far as possible not to close post offices when it can be avoided. As the Performance and Innovation Unit's report recognises, sub-post office closures occur typically in small rural communities where a sub-postmaster resigns or dies and, despite best efforts, the Post Office can find no suitable replacement to take over the running of the office.

Mr. Chidgey

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his oral statement of 28 June 2000,Official Report, columns 907–20, how many (a) urban and (b) rural sub-post offices were unavoidably closed because (i) no one was prepared to take over from the departing sub-postmaster and (ii) an associated retail business was no longer commercially viable, in (1) 1997, (2) 1998 and (3) 1999. [128750]

Mr. Alan Johnson

I understand that the Post Office does not hold the specific data requested for causes of closure of sub-post offices. The Post Office seeks as far as possible not to close post offices when it can be avoided. The total numbers of sub-post offices which have closed in the last three financial years are:

Year Sub-post offices
1997–98 238
1998–99 232
1999–2000 380