§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the timetable is to be announced for the programme of financial support for rural post offices. [76978]
§ Mr. TimmsWe have received advice from the Postal Services Commission on proposals for supporting the rural network from 2003 and details of substantial financial support will be announced shortly.
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§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Government have to provide assistance to the Post Office Rural Network; and if she will make a statement. [77756]
§ Mr. TimmsThe Government are committed to the maintenance of a nationwide network of post offices and placed a formal requirement on the Post Office in November 2000 to maintain the network and to prevent any avoidable closures of rural post offices.
The Government have already invested in modernisation comprising some £480 million to computerise the whole post office network. We have made available a £2 million fund to support volunteer and community initiatives to maintain or reopen post office facilities in rural areas where traditional services would otherwise close. Figures for end September 2002, showed that 168 applications—to a value of £825,000—had been assessed and approved and to that date payments of £529,000 have also been made.
We have received advice from the Postal Services Commission on proposals for supporting the rural network from 2003 and details of substantial financial support will be announced shortly.