To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the net savings to Post Office Ltd of the closure of (a) the St. Leonards Green Post Office, (b) the White Rock Post Office in St. Leonards, (c) the Hastings Old Town Post Office and (d) the Tilling Green Post Office in Rye. (168450)

The development of proposals for specific post office closures is a matter for Post Office Ltd. with input from Postwatch, local authorities and subpostmasters. The consultation period for the Sussex area plan covering Hastings and Rye constituency closes on 24 December. Final decisions on which post offices will close will be taken by Post Office Ltd. in light of the responses received to the area consultations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the remaining post offices can accommodate greater numbers of customers as part of the Post Office closure programme. (168522)

This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps the Government are taking to ensure the Post Office takes into account local factors such as public transport access before closing a post office. (168530)

In formulating its area plans, Post Office Ltd. is required to consider the availability of public transport and alternative access to key post office services, local demographics and the impact on the local economy.