§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the factors underlying the rate of post office closures since 1997. [136710]
§ Mr. ByersPost office closures remain below past peak levels. In 1991–92, 478 offices closed and in 1984–85 395 closed. The number of rural office closures in the first half of the current financial year is running at a lower level than in the same period last year. I have asked the Post Office for an analysis of the factors underlying Post Office closures. This analysis is to include age of person moving out of the business, property sold, location and reason. In addition, we are implementing in full the recommendations of the Performance and Innovation Unit report to modernise the post office network and strengthen its future viability.