HC Deb 13 July 2000 vol 353 cc612-3W
20. Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will publish the details of the financial package for post offices outlined in his statement on 28 June. [128960]

Mr. Alan Johnson

Funding provision for the measures in support of the post office network were referred to by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in his statement of 28 June 2000,Official Report, columns 907–09. The provision is being set aside and precise amounts will be announced once detailed proposals have been drawn up and approved.

24. Mr. Tyler

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many parishes lost their sub-post office(a) in the period between 1 May 1997 and 30 April 2000 and (b) in the previous three years. [128964]

Mr. Alan Johnson

I understand from the Post Office that it does not hold data on the location of sub-post offices by parish. The total number of post offices closed between end March 1997 and end March 2000 was 850 and in the three years between end March 1994 and end March 1997 the total number was 277.

Mrs. Browning

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of sub-post office closures in each year since 1997 met the definition of unavoidable closures set out in the Performance and Innovation Unit's report into the post office network. [129419]

Mr. Byers

[holding answer 6 July 2000]: That information is not available as the PIU report gives a definition based on events which have not yet taken place.

Mr. Lilley

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post office closures in each year since 1990 were unavoidable as defined in his oral statement of 28 June 2000,Official Report, column 907–20, on the Post Office network. [129984]

Mr. Byers

[holding answer 10 July 2000]: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given above to the hon. Member for Tiverton and Honiton (Mrs. Browning) today.