HC Deb 13 January 2004 vol 416 cc703-4W
Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) urban and (b) rural post offices there are in each constituency; and how many post offices in each (i) constituency and (ii) region (A) have closed and (B) are expected to close as part of the Government's modernisation of the post office network. [147067]

Mr. Timms

[holding answer 12 January 2004]Post Office Ltd. produces lists, updated annually, of post offices, classified as urban or rural, in each parliamentary constituency. The most recent list showing the position as at the end of April 2003 is available in the Library of the House. Post Office Ltd. expects that up to 3,000 urban sub post offices could close under the network reinvention programme but there is no list and the precise number of closures under the programme will not be known until it ends.

Final decisions on post office closure arrangements are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and I have asked its Chief Executive to respond directly to the hon. Member on the number of closures under the urban reinvention programme.

Mr. Weir

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices in Scotland have been scheduled for closure by the Post Office under the Network Reinvention Scheme in each of the last four months, broken down by parliamentary constituency. [147469]

Mr. Timms

Proposals put out to consultation for, and subsequent decisions on post office closures under the urban reinvention programme are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and I have asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Mr. Weir

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which sub-post offices in Scotland scheduled for closure under the Network Reinvention Scheme remained open following public consultation on the proposal. [147470]

Mr. Timms

Decisions on post office closure proposals under the urban reinvention programme following public consultation are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and I have asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.