HC Deb 12 May 2004 vol 421 cc441-3W
Mr. Ruffley

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices were closed in each of the past three years up to March in(a) the East of England, (b) Suffolk and (c) the parliamentary constituency of Bury St. Edmunds. [171869]

Mr. Timms

I am advised by Post Office Ltd. that data on post office closures by county or parliamentary constituency are not available in the form requested as the company does not require this data for its operational purposes. However, I understand that since March 2000 the company has recorded details of post office closures on the basis of Government Region and in the East of England region as a whole, the numbers of net closures were as follows:

East of England Region
Number
2000–01 70
2001–02 21
2002–03 33

Post Office Ltd. produces statistics on post office closures on a quarterly basis. The latest data on net closures by region currently available for year 2003–04 is to the end of December 2003. Data for the quarter to end March 2004 is expected shortly. There were 61 net closures of post offices in the East of England region to the end of December 2003. These figures include a total of 55 closures in the East of England region under the urban reinvention programme since its commencement in late 2002.

Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what(a) Post Office, (b) Royal Mail and (c) Government functions are (i) provided by all sub-post offices, (ii) provided by some sub-post offices at the discretion of (A) the sub-postmaster, (B) Post Office Ltd and (C) others, (iii) provided by all Crown post offices and (iv) provided by some Crown post offices at the discretion of (1) the manager, (2) Post Office Ltd. and (3) others. [171936]

Mr. Timms

These are operational matters for Post Office Ltd. and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Mr. Flook

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the decision to turn Taunton Crown Post Office into a SPAR store with post office facilities was taken; and if she will make a statement. [171990]

Mr. Timms

[holding answer 10 May 2004]: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

David Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultation took place between the Government and the main clearing banks prior to the introduction of the Post Office card accounts; and what advice Ministers received on these matters. [172319]

Mr. Timms

Extensive consultation took place between the Government and the banking industry. The result of those negotiations was that all the main High Street banks and the Nationwide Building Society agreed to make a significant contribution to universal banking services at the Post Office. They are contributing £180 million towards the Post Office card account and are each providing access at Post Offices to a basic bank account product. Universal banking services were successfully launched on 1 April 2003.

Mr. Carmichael

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 28 April 2004,Official Report, columns 1163–64W, on rural post offices, for what reasons she will not publish Postcomm's advice on future levels of support; and when the Department will complete its consideration of this advice. [172547]

Mr. Timms

As I made clear in my answer of 28 April, Postcomm's advice on the future of the rural post office network was submitted to the Government in confidence. There are good reasons for this. The report contains detailed material which is commercially sensitive, both in relation to Post Office Ltd. and to the many individual businessmen and women who own and run sub-post offices. While I do not rule out the publication in due course, it would be inappropriate to publish it before the Government has taken any decisions on the future of the rural network. The Government is currently considering that advice and will take decisions on the shape of the rural post office network after 2006 in good time to allow for a smooth transition from the current support arrangements. The current funding arrangements for the rural post office network have nearly two years to run yet.