To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many (a) Crown and (b) sub post offices are currently used by Her Majesty's Government for payment of the main benefits; and what is the minimum number in each category which he expects to be capable of discharging this function for the next five years.

As at 27 December 1992 there were 970 Crown post offices and 18,974 sub-post offices, all of which are used for the payment of benefits. The number of Crown offices is expected to decrease over the next five years in line with the Post Office's policy to convert them to agency offices. The number of sub-post offices is expected to remain broadly similar, although closures occur from time to time as a result of local circumstances.