§ Mrs. BrowningTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices are projected to close in(a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03. [129418]
§ Mr. ByersAs all sub-post offices are privately owned and operated, there can be many different reasons leading to a decision to close and there is no accurate way of forecasting future closure levels. However, the Post Office seeks to maintain post office services wherever possible and this policy is being reinforced by the Government's requirement on the Post Office to maintain the rural network and to prevent any avoidable closures of rural post offices.
§ Mrs. BrowningTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library a copy of the research by Christie and Co., referred to on page 62 of the Performance and Innovation Unit's report into the post office network. [129430]
§ Mr. ByersChristie and Co. provided information about sub-post offices to the Performance and Innovation Unit on an exclusive and confidential basis as the information was and is commercially sensitive. I am therefore unable to place a copy of this research in the Library of the House.
§ Mrs. BrowningTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research his Department has commissioned into the impact of Internet-based services on the letters market. [129420]
§ Mrs. BrowningTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what estimate he has made of the level of remuneration sub-post masters will receive for acting as Government general practitioners; and if he will make a statement; [129423]
250W(2) what level of additional investment the Horizon platform will require to operate the universal bank; [129427]
(3) if the Government intend to provide financial support for the improvement of the urban post office network recommended on page 88 of the Performance and Innovation Unit's report into the post office network; [129426]
(4) what estimate he has made of the (a) setting up cost and (b) annual running cost of the universal bank; [129424]
(5) if benefit claimants who opt to receive their benefits in cash from a post office following the switch to ACT will be required to have a bank account; [129428]
(6) what plans he has for delivery of funds to support post offices in urban deprived areas; [129434]
(7) what estimate he has made of the income to the Post Office which will be generated by the universal bank; [129425]
(8) what estimate he has made of the impact on the income of sub-post offices if those people who do not have a bank account at present start to pay utility bills by direct debit following the introduction of the universal bank; [129429]
(9) how much funding he will commit to improve post offices in deprived areas. [129433]
§ Mr. ByersI refer the hon. Member to my statement and subsequent exchanges on 28 June 2000,Official Report, columns 907–20, and the PIU report also published on 28 June, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House and the Vote Office.
§ Mrs. BrowningTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of rural sub-post offices have ISDN lines. [129421]
§ Mr. ByersI understand from the Post Office that they do not have a percentage breakdown of rural post offices which currently have an ISDN line, but every post office will have an ISDN line or equivalent satellite link by February 2001.
§ Mrs. BrowningTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the cost of installing ISDN lines to the post office network. [129422]
§ Mr. ByersUnder the existing Horizon programme, every post office outlet will have an ISDN line or equivalent satellite link by February 2001. The costs are an integral part of the Horizon contract.