To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2006, Official Report, column 1748W, on the Rural Post Office Network, why he is not working to a specific timetable for the consultation on the future of the Rural Post Office Network. (80868)

With a funding support package of £150 million a year for the rural network in place until 2008, we believe it is more important to ensure that we have the fullest possible data and information on which to assess future options than to work to a prematurely predetermined consultation timetable.