§ Mr. LilleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many mergers of sub-post offices are estimated by the Performance and Innovation Unit to result from its recommendation to create bigger outlets. [138043]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 13 November 2000]The Cabinet Office Performance and Innovation Unit report on the Post Office network did not contain such an estimate.
§ Mr. LilleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post masters and mistresses are qualified and registered with the Financial Services Authority to offer financial advice on retirement pension provision. [138036]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 13 November 2000]: There are no proposals from the government or any other body including the National Federation of Subpostmasters for subpostmasters and mistresses to offer financial advice on retirement pension provision.
§ Mr. LilleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the formula proposed by the Post Office for calculating a social network payment for sub-post offices. [138038]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 13 November 2000]: The Post Office network submitted its business plan to me on 19 September. The plan contains commercially sensitive information and was submitted to me in confidence.
§ Mr. PageTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations he has received regarding modified post offices. [138417]
§ Mr. Alan Johnson[holding answer 14 November 2000]: Written representations regarding modified sub post offices have been received from four Members of Parliament and from 6 individual subpostmasters.
§ Mr. PageTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to ensure that those running modified sub-post offices receive (a) the minimum wage and (b) other employees' statutory rights, following the decision in the case of H. & V. Patel v. the Commissioner of Customs and Excise. [138410]
§ Mr. Alan Johnson[holding answer 14 November 2000]: It is the responsibility of the Post Office to ensure compliance with any employment legislation applicable to sub-postmasters.
§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many parishes do not have a post office(a) in the latest year for which figures are available and (b) 10 years previously; and if he will place a list of those parishes in the Library. 139061]
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonI understand from the Post Office that they do not hold data at parish level.