§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action is being taken by the Post Office to improve security measures at Weoley Castle sub-post office in Birmingham and to re-open the premises. [139107]
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonI understand from the Post Office that in interviewing potential candidates to take over the running of Weoley Castle sub-post office, security measures will be discussed.
§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action the Post Office will take to maintain the availability of accessible counter services to residents during temporary closure of urban sub-post offices. [139108]
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonThe Post Office have advised that they use a range of measures to try to minimise inconvenience to customers when sub-post offices close temporarily. According to the circumstances, these measures may include: appointing a temporary sub-postmaster who can operate the sub-post office until a permanent solution can be found, subject to availability of existing or alternative premises; managing the office directly with Post Office staff; redirecting customers to nearby post offices. In some circumstances the use of a mobile sub-post office service may be an option.
§ Mr. LilleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices have sufficient storage and handling space to act as collection, return and payment points for e-commerce. [138040]
§ Mr. ByersThe Post Office have begun a six month trial in some 800 post offices in the South West offering customers the facility to nominate a post office as an alternative collection point for packets and parcels. An objective of the trial is to assess the operational implications, including the space required at post offices, of offering this service throughout the network.