HC Deb 23 July 2002 vol 389 cc944-5W
John Barrett

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices were closed due to a lack of suitable sub postmasters at the latest available date. [70875]

Mr. Timms

Sub-postmaster vacancies are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and I have asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Ann McKechin

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate her Department has made of the number of sub-post offices that are expected to close in the next year in(a) the UK and (b) Scotland. [72011]

Mr. Timms

The programme to restructure the urban post office network has not yet started and I am advised by Post Office Ltd. that, until it does, there are no specific plans for post office closures in the UK or in Scotland. When the programme starts it will be taken forward in consultation with individual sub-postmasters, the community, local stakeholders and Postwatch. Under the Code of Practice, Post Office Ltd. is required to consult Postwatch on individual changes and is briefing it on the process envisaged for reaching decisions.

The objective of the urban network restructuring programme is to provide modernised and improved facilities which meet customers' needs and expectations and are in the right location for the local community.

Ann McKechin

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she had made of the effect of the closure of sub-post offices on the provision of universal banking in(a) the UK and (b) Scotland. [72020]

Mr. Timms

The Performance and Innovation Unit recommended a programme of modernisation and restructuring designed to ensure that urban sub-post offices can operate as viable businesses for their owners and offer improved services from the right locations to serve their communities. The programme to restructure the urban post office network will be taken forward in consultation with individual sub-postmasters.

In some urban areas, there are too many post offices in very close proximity to each other for them all to be viable, regardless of the provision of universal banking services at the Post Office, Universal Banking Services are due to be introduced in 2003 when migration of benefit payments to automated credit transfer (ACT) is scheduled to begin.

The Government are committed to ensuring that on migration to ACT, those people who wish to do so will be able to continue to get their benefits in cash at post offices, in full without charge.