§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
How often the Post Office exercised its compulsory land purchase powers in the three years from 1997–98; what is the size of its current land bank; and what proportion of that land bank was acquired more than three years ago. [HL1615]
§ The Minister for Science, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville)The Post Office has not exercised its compulsory land purchase powers during these three years. The total number of properties, excluding sub-postmaster premises, is currently 2,734. Of these, approximately 96 per cent were acquired more than three years ago.