To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the policy of her Department in respect of the closure of (a) main and (b) sub-post offices. [18163]

The Government are committed to the maintenance of a nationwide network of post offices. We cannot guarantee that no post office will ever close or relocate for operational or other reasons, as over 95 per cent. of the network is made up of small businesses. At my request, the Post Office, in May, suspended its programme of converting Crown post offices to agency status until the review of the Post Office is complete and we are in a position to make informed decisions.