§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list by region, the amounts of compensation paid in the last 12 months to sub postmasters and mistresses connected with the closure of their establishment; [168852]
(2) how many sub-post offices which in the past 12 months the organisation Postwatch has recommended be kept open, have subsequently been closed, broken down by region. [168988]
§ Mr. TimmsThese are operational matters for Post Office Ltd. and I have asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.
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§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices closed in the UK in the past 12 months, broken down by region. [169136]
§ Mr. TimmsPost Office Ltd. produces statistics on post office closures on a quarterly basis. The latest data on net closures by region currently available is to the end of December 2003. Data for the quarter to end March 2004 is expected shortly.
Net post office closures by country/region for the nine months to end December 2003 Country/region Number North East 32 North West 99 Yorkshire and Humberside 62 West Midlands 58 South West 75 South East 122 London 89 East of England 61 East Midlands 66 Northern Ireland 18 Scotland 43 Wales 49