HC Deb 06 February 2002 vol 379 cc960-1W
Mr. Breed

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) directly operated post offices, (b) other main post offices and (c) sub-post offices there were in (i) each English region, (ii) Wales, (iii) Northern Ireland and (iv) Scotland in each year since 1979; how many of each category of post office in each case were opened or closed since 1979; and how many have changed their status since 1979. [33779]

Mr. Alexander

I am informed by Post Office Ltd. that historic data on numbers of directly operated post offices and sub post offices are only held on a UK basis and historical data on numbers of post office openings and closures and status change are not maintained separately.

I am also informed by Post Office Ltd. that data by country are not available before 1998. The numbers of post offices operating in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, in the last three financial years are as follows:

Wales

  • End March 1998: 1,513
  • End March 1999: 1,501
  • End March 2000: 1,470
  • End March 2001: 1,402

Northern Ireland

  • End March 1998: 650
  • End March 1999: 640
  • End March 2000: 636
  • End March 2001: 611

Scotland

  • End March 1998: 2,051
  • End March 1999: 2,026
  • End March 2000: 1,999
  • End March 2001: 1,936.

I am informed by Post Office Ltd. that an on-going revision of data has affected individual country totals.