§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Government's response to recommendation 18 of the Performance and Innovation Unit's report-Counter Revolution. [105347]
§ Mr. TimmsThe Government contributed £25 million to the Your Guide pilot to test the concept of the Government general practitioner role for post offices in line with the Performance and Innovation Unit's recommendations 18 and 19. The evaluation of the pilot showed that a publicly funded national Your Guide scheme would not represent value for money. The pilot highlighted areas in which Government services might be delivered through post offices in the future and these are being further explored, together with alternative commercial options.
§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken to develop sub-post offices as Government general practitioner outlets. [105348]
§ Mr. TimmsThe Your Guide pilot showed that it would neither significantly improve Government Departments' ability to meet their delivery of financial objectives nor raise sufficient revenue for post offices. A publicly funded national Your Guide would not therefore represent value for money but the pilot highlighted a number of areas in which Government Departments might deliver services through post offices in the future and we are exploring these, and potential alternative commercial options, further.