Post Office Network (Hansard, 12 July 2000)

§ Mr. Lilley
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the estimated cost of setting up a universal bank in sub-post offices. [129989]
588W

§ Mr. Byers
[holding answer 10 July 2000]: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Tiverton and Honiton (Mrs. Browning) on 6 July 2000, Official Report, column 252W.

§ Mr. Lilley
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Post Office was informed of the contents of(a) the Performance and Innovation Unit report on Modernising the Post Office network and (b) the proposals contained in his oral statement of 28 June 2000, Official Report, columns 907–20, on the Post Office network. [129985]

§ Mr. Byers
[holding answer 10 July 2000]: By the nature of the Performance and Innovation Unit's study on modernising the post office network, the Post Office were closely involved in it throughout. However, they did not receive a copy of the report in final form or of my statement until after I stood up to make my statement to the House on 28 June.

§ Mr. Tyler
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what mechanisms are employed to ensure that the full value of rural sub post offices to the local community and economy are taken into account in developing co-ordinated Government policy. [128654]

§ Mr. Alan Johnson
In preparing its report on the post office network, the Performance and Innovation Unit has assessed in detail the economic and social role and value of rural sub post offices in the local community. Its findings are reflected in the recommendations made in its report for a range of measures to protect and sustain the rural network.

§ Charlotte Atkins
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Performance and Innovation Unit's work as it affects rural post offices. [128643]

Mr. Michael J. Foster
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Performance and Innovation Unit's work as it affects rural post offices. [128653]

§ Mr. Alan Johnson
The Performance and Innovation Unit's report on the post office network emphasises the important contribution made by post offices to their local communities and, in particular, the need to protect the rural network against avoidable closures by providing financial support for a period. The Performance and Innovation Unit's report contains 24 recommendations, of which six relate specifically to the network of rural post offices, 12 relate to the network as a whole and six relate specifically to urban post offices. The Government accept all of them.