To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what estimate his Department has made of the number of (a) village shops and (b) post offices in Cornish villages with a population of less than (i) 1,000, (ii) 2,000 and (iii) 5,000 inhabitants which have closed in the last five years. (152125)

Information on the number of local post offices that have closed is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. Alan Cook the Managing Director has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Estimates of the number of shops which have closed in villages are not produced, for Cornwall or any area.