§ Brian CotterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to improve post offices in deprived urban areas with special reference to how the money allocated in the Comprehensive Spending Review 2000 will be spent; and what definition he uses to identify a deprived urban area. [43344]
225W
§ Ms KeebleThe Neighbourhood Renewal Unit is developing a fund to help sustain and improve post offices in deprived urban areas. £15 million was allocated for this Fund in Spending Review 2000, and this sum remains committed for this purpose. The development of this fund has taken longer than we hoped, as there are some complex legal issues that we must resolve in order to launch the fund on a firm footing.
However, we hope to be in a position to announce the details of the scheme in spring or early summer this year.