§ David DavisTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the(a) foreign and (b) UK visits she has made since 1 April 2003; what the cost was to public funds of each trip; who she met; and what gifts were received. [126871]
§ Ms HewittThe Government publish the overall costs of all ministerial overseas travel and a list of all visits overseas by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 on an annual basis. The list for the period 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 was published by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 16 July 2003,Official Report, column 482W. The next list for the period 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 will be published at the end of the financial year.
In respect of gifts received, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 14 March 2003, Official Report, column 482W.
Since 1 April 2003, I have undertaken the following visits in the UK:
(a) unprofitability and (b) the reorganisation of the Post Office in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998, (iii) 1999, (iv) 2000, (v) 2001, (vi) 2002 and (vii) 2003. [128385]
§ Mr. TimmsI understand from Post Office Ltd. that no data is held on the profitability or unprofitability of privately owned sub post offices that close. I also understand that net post office closures in the last six financial years were as follows. 77W
Number Year to end March 1998 243 Year to end March 1999 233 Year to end March 2000 382 Year to end March 2001 547 Year to end March 2002 262 Year to end March 2003 1345 1 The figure for the year to end March 2003 includes 102 post office closures under the urban reinvention programme.