HC Deb 10 July 2000 vol 353 c371W
Mrs. Browning

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he intends to pay subsidies to post offices before 2003. [129417]

Mr. Byers

[holding answer 6 July 2000]I 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.

Mr. David Heath

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to ensure that each sub-post office will be entitled to offer the full range of Post Office and contracted Government services subject to the commercial decisions of the sub-postmaster involved. [128753]

Mr. Alan Johnson

In his statement on 28 June 2000,Official Report, columns 907–20, on the Post Office network, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced a range of proposals and measures designed to modernise and sustain the post office network. Among them were proposals to develop new areas of business facilitated by the installation of a modern on-line computer system in every office throughout the country. Certain services are likely to remain restricted to a proportion of the network because of the client's requirement for cost-effectiveness in selecting channels for the delivery of their services.