To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for the future of the post office network in Sunderland; and whether the new card account for pensioners will be retained. (99886)

Post Office Ltd. is directly responsible for matters relating to the operations of a network of post offices in any given area around the country. I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.

The Department for Works and Pensions' contract for the Post Office card account will expire in 2010, as it was always meant to. Exactly what accounts will be available beyond 2010 is not yet settled. Discussions between POL and the DWP are ongoing. The aim is to ensure that customers continue to have a range of choices in how they can access their money at post offices.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices have closed in each parliamentary constituency in the last 10 years; how many post offices there were on 1st April 2006 in each parliamentary constituency; and if he will make a statement. (99540)

The question raised relates to operational matters for which Post Office Ltd. is directly responsible. The company compiles figuresfor post office branches in each parliamentary constituency on an annual basis. This information is placed in, and is available from, the Libraries of the House.