HC Deb 17 May 2004 vol 421 c684W
Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will instruct Post Office Ltd. not to withhold information requested by hon. Members on closures of local post offices. [172068]

Mr. Timms

[holding answer 10 May 2004]: Under the public consultation process, Post Office Ltd. supplies extensive information to assist stakeholders and other interested parties in their consideration of post office closure proposals, but detailed financial information is, necessarily, commercially confidential.

David Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advertising is taking place to promote(a) Post Office card accounts and (b) the use of post offices for the collection of pensions. [172323]

Mr. Timms

The DWP Direct Payment information campaign raises awareness of all the account options for Direct Payment, including bank and building society and Post Office accounts and also accounts that can be accessed through Post Office branches. It is for customers themselves to decide which account will best meet their needs and circumstances.

Post Office Ltd. is responsible for advertising its own services and has undertaken a number of advertising campaigns promoting the banking services which are available at post offices. The current campaign recently launched nationally advertises the banking services of the High Street Banks and the Post Office card account available at post offices.