§ John ThursoTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the Sub-Post Office Start-Up Capital Subsidy scheme has been spent to date, broken down by region. [138897]
§ Mr. TimmsI understand from Post Office Ltd, who administer the Scheme on my Department's behalf, that payments totalling £1,238,722.18 had been made to the end of September 2003, the latest date to which data is available. As at the same date, the total value of grants approved was £1,712,811.62. I also understand that details of grants approved and paid are not recorded by region but are available on a country basis and that payments totalling £151,401.98 had been made to sub post offices in Scotland as at the end of September 2003.