To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices there are in each parliamentary constituency; and how many of them transact more than 40 per cent. of their work from paying benefits and pensions. [107044]
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 9 January 2003, Official Report, column 299W.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) post offices and (b) sub-post offices there were in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) each region in March (A) 1999, (B) 2000, (C) 2001 and (D) 2002. [107045]
I understand from Post Office Ltd. that the total numbers of post offices in the United Kingdom and each region/country is only available from March 2000 and are as follows:
| Region/Country | March 2000 | March 2001 | March 2002 |
| North East | 739 | 736 | 726 |
| North West | 1,882 | 1,853 | 1,848 |
| Yorkshire and Humber | 1,583 | 1,530 | 1,509 |
| West Midlands | 1,479 | 1,438 | 1,414 |
| South West | 1,926 | 1,880 | 1,847 |
| South East | 2,267 | 2,189 | 2,153 |
| London | 1,233 | 1,225 | 1,209 |
| East of England | 1,706 | 1,632 | 1,611 |
Region/Country
| March 2000
| March 2001
| March 2002
|
| East Midlands | 1,477 | 1,420 | 1,382 |
| Northern Ireland | 632 | 611 | 605 |
| Scotland | 1,999 | 1,933 | 1,907 |
| Wales | 1,470 | 1,399 | 1,373 |
| UK Total | 18,393 | 17,846 | 17,584 |