The Petition of customers of Bidborough Post Office and local residents of Bidborough and surrounding villages,

Declares that the Government must keep Bidborough Post Office open.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons accept this petition and call upon the Government and the Post Office to overturn their decision to close Bidborough Post Office.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Greg Clark, Official Report, 13 November 2007; Vol. 467, c. 645 .] [P000053]

Observations from the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform:

The Government fully recognises the important social and economic role of post offices, particularly in rural and deprived urban communities. That is why it is determined to maintain a national post office network allowing people to have reasonable access across the whole country and has put in place a new policy and financial framework to achieve this. The Government has been investing substantial sums in the post office network, totalling £2 billion since 1999. That has, for example, paid for a computer link-up for every post office as well as support for non-commercial branches since 2003.

In its response to the consultation on the Post Office network the Government anncounced back in May confirmation of its decision to extend funding of up to £1.7 billion to 2011, including provision of £150 million Social Network Payment to support the post office network up to 2011. The Government strategy includes provision for 2,500 compensated closures and 500 new Outreach services.

The 500 new and innovative Outreach locations, operated in partnership with other local services such as in pubs, village halls, churches or in mobile post offices, will mitigate closures, primarily in smaller and more remote communities. Nevertheless, to ensure sustainability, there will need to be up to 2,500 compensated post office closures within the defined access criteria.

Post Office Limited is responsible for implementing the network change programme at a local level. It is developing a rolling programme of some 50 local consultations on detailed area plans, based on groups of Parliamentary constituencies.

Post Office Ltd develops its proposals with the participation of sub-postmasters, local authorities and the consumer watchdog, Postwatch, and takes into account the numeric access criteria set out by Government as well as local factors affecting ease of access, such as local geography: rivers, mountains etc when drawing up its implementation plans. POL is also 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. Local consultations provide the opportunity to raise any specific concerns over particular proposals.

The consultation period for the Kent area finished on 12 November and in announcing its final decisions on 6 December Post Office Ltd confirmed that the Bidborough Post Office will close. Post Office Ltd published their decision in an Area Plan Decision Booklet for Kent available on their website at: www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange.

The Government does not have a role in proposals or decisions for individual post offices and final decisions on which post offices will close are taken by Post Office Ltd.

The Petition of Rebecca Anderson on behalf of the customers of Carrington Post Office, Nottingham,

Declares that the selection criteria of Post Office branches that are proposed for closure have not taken into account the economic and social impact these closures will affect. This has resulted in one of the top 25 performing branches in the Nottingham area being proposed for closure. Each proposed branch should be comprehensively and accurately assessed. The Petitioners have evidence that this has not been done so far.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to review the restructuring process with Post Office Ltd. with a view to protecting commercially viable branches from being closed; and further urge the Government to ask Post Office Ltd. to enter in public meetings where these are requested by the local communities.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Mr. John Heppell, Official Report, 14 November 2007; Vol. 467, c. 791 .] [P000050]

Observations from the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform:

The Government fully recognises the important social and economic role of post offices, particularly in rural and deprived urban communities. That is why it is determined to maintain a national post office network allowing people to have reasonable access across the whole country and has put in place a new policy and financial framework to achieve this. The Government has been investing substantial sums in the post office network, totalling £2 billion since 1999. That has, for example, paid for a computer link-up for every post office as well as support for non-commercial branches since 2003.

In its response to the consultation on the Post Office network the Government announced back in May confirmation of its decision to extend funding of up to £1.7 billion to 2011, including provision of £150 million Social Network Payment to support the post office network up to 2011. The Government strategy includes provision for 2,500 compensated closures and 500 new Outreach services.

The 500 new and innovative Outreach locations, operated in partnership with other local services such as in pubs, village halls, churches or in mobile post offices, will mitigate closures, primarily in smaller and more remote communities. Nevertheless, to ensure sustainability, there will need to be up to 2,500 compensated post office closures within the defined access criteria.

Post Office Limited is responsible for implementing the network change programme at a local level. It is developing a rolling programme of some 50 local consultations on detailed area plans, based on groups of Parliamentary constituencies.

Post Office Ltd develops its proposals with the participation of sub-postmasters, local authorities and the consumer watchdog, Postwatch, and takes into account the numeric access criteria set out by Government as well as local factors affecting ease of access, such as local geography: rivers, mountains etc when drawing up its implementation plans. POL is also 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. Local consultations provide the opportunity to raise any specific concerns over particular proposals.

Around 75% of sub post offices are unprofitable for Post Office Ltd because the payments they make to sub postmasters, taken together with the associated network support costs, are higher than the revenues generated for Post Office Ltd by those offices. Offices can therefore be profitable to sub postmasters, particularly when any associated retail business is also taken into account, but still be loss making for Post Office Ltd. In order to restructure the network in a balanced way and meet the access criteria, some busy offices which make losses for Post Office Ltd but have alternative branches nearby will have to be closed.

The consultation period for the East Midlands area finished on 12 November and in announcing its final decisions on 11 December Post Office Ltd confirmed that the Carrington Post Office will close. Post Office Ltd published their decision in an Area Plan Decision Booklet for East Midlands available on their website at: www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange.

The Government does not have a role in proposals or decisions for individual post offices and final decisions on which post offices will close are taken by Post Office Ltd.

The Petition of customers of St John's Road Post Office and local residents of St John's Road and surrounding villages,

Declares that the Government must keep St John's Road Post Office open

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons accept this petition and call upon the Government and the Post Office to overturn their decision to close St John's Road Post Office.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Greg Clark, Official Report, 13 November 2007; Vol. 467, c. 644.] [P000054]

Observations from the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform:

The Government fully recognises the important social and economic role of post offices, particularly in rural and deprived urban communities. That is why it is determined to maintain a national post office network allowing people to have reasonable access across the whole country and has put in place a new policy and financial framework to achieve this. The Government has been investing substantial sums in the post office network, totalling £2 billion since 1999. That has, for example, paid for a computer link-up for every post office as well as support for non-commercial branches since 2003.

In its response to the consultation on the Post Office network the Government announced back in May confirmation of its decision to extend funding of up to £1.7 billion to 2011, including provision of £150 million Social Network Payment to support the post office network up to 2011. The Government strategy includes provision for 2,500 compensated closures and 500 new Outreach services.

The 500 new and innovative Outreach locations, operated in partnership with other local services such as in pubs, village halls, churches or in mobile post offices, will mitigate closures, primarily in smaller and more remote communities. Nevertheless, to ensure sustainability, there will need to be up to 2,500 compensated post office closures within the defined access criteria.

Post Office Limited is responsible for implementing the network change programme at a local level. It is developing a rolling programme of some 50 local consultations on detailed area plans, based on groups of Parliamentary constituencies.

Post Office Ltd develops its proposals with the participation of sub-postmasters, local authorities and the consumer watchdog, Postwatch, and takes into account the numeric access criteria set out by Government as well as local factors affecting ease of access, such as local geography: rivers, mountains etc when drawing up its implementation plans. POL is also 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. Local consultations provide the opportunity to raise any specific concerns over particular proposals.

The consultation period for the Kent area finished on 12 November and in announcing its final decisions on 6 December Post Office Ltd confirmed that the St John's Road Post Office will close. Post Office Ltd published their decision in an Area Plan Decision Booklet for Kent available on their website at: www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange.

The Government does not have a role in proposals or decisions for individual post offices and final decisions on which post offices will close are taken by Post Office Ltd.

The Petition of Cllrs. Stephen Broadhurst, Michael Jarvis and Edwin Watt-Ruffell who represent the residents of Dane Valley, Thanet,

Declares that the proposed reduction in the number of Post Offices serving our communities will be socially damaging and is unwelcome.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons call upon the Government, as the major shareholder in Post Office Ltd., to withdraw the current proposals and review the funding of the Post Office network.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Mr. Roger Gale, Official Report, 13 November 2007; Vol. 467, c. 643.] [P000052]

Observations from the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform:

The Government fully recognises the important social and economic role of post offices, particularly in rural and deprived urban communities. That is why it is determined to maintain a national post office network allowing people to have reasonable access across the whole country and has put in place a new policy and financial framework to achieve this. The Government has been investing substantial sums in the post office network, totalling £2 billion since 1999. That has, for example, paid for a computer link-up for every post office as well as support for non-commercial branches since 2003. It has decided to extend that support to 2011 with the provision of up to another £1.7 billion additional funding.

Post Office Limited is responsible for implementing the network change programme at a local level. It is developing a rolling programme of some 50 local consultations on detailed area plans, based on groups of Parliamentary constituencies.

Post Office Ltd develops its proposals with the participation of sub-postmasters, local authorities and the consumer watchdog, Postwatch, and takes into account the numeric access criteria set out by Government as well as local factors affecting ease of access, such as local geography: rivers, mountains etc when drawing up its implementation plans. POL is also 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. Local consultations provide the opportunity to raise any specific concerns over particular proposals.

The consultation period for the Kent area finished on 12 November and Post Office Ltd published their decision in an Area Plan Decision Booklet for Kent available on their website at: www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange .

The Government does not have a role in proposals or decisions for individual post offices and final decisions on which post offices will close are taken by Post Office Ltd in light of the responses received to the area consultations.

The Petition of the residents of the Shipley constituency and the surrounding area,

Declares that the Petitioners are extremely concerned at the threat of closures and the removal of public services to the post offices in the Shipley constituency and believe that this is a pressing public service priority within the Bradford district.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons calls upon the Government to recognise the importance of the post office to the local community and to other businesses in the Shipley constituency and to ensure that the Post Office honour their promise to maintain sufficient post offices and services in the Shipley constituency.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Philip Davies, Official Report, 19 November 2007; Vol. 467, c. 1071.] [P000058]

Observations from the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform:

The Government fully recognises the important social and economic role of post offices, particularly in rural and deprived urban communities. That is why it is determined to maintain a national post office network allowing people to have reasonable access across the whole country and has put in place a new policy and financial framework to achieve this. The Government has been investing substantial sums in the post office network, totalling £2 billion since 1999. That has, for example, paid for a computer link-up for every post office as well as support for non-commercial branches since 2003.

In its response to the consultation on the Post Office network the Government announced back in May confirmation of its decision to extend funding of up to £1.7 billion to 2011, including provision of £150 million Social Network Payment to support the post office network up to 2011. The Government strategy includes provision for 2,500 compensated closures and 500 new Outreach services.

The 500 new and innovative Outreach locations, operated in partnership with other local services such as in pubs, village halls, churches or in mobile post offices, will mitigate closures, primarily in smaller and more remote communities. Nevertheless, to ensure sustainability, there will need to be up to 2,500 compensated post office closures within the defined access criteria.

Post Office Limited is responsible for implementing the network change programme at a local level. It is developing a rolling programme of some 50 local consultations on detailed area plans, based on groups of Parliamentary constituencies.

Post Office Limited develops its proposals with the participation of sub-postmasters, local authorities and the consumer watchdog, Postwatch, and takes into account the numeric access criteria set out by Government as well as local factors affecting ease of access, such as local geography: rivers, mountains etc when drawing up its implementation plans. POL is also 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. Local consultations provide the opportunity to raise any specific concerns over particular proposals.

The consultation period for the Shipley constituency area (West Yorkshire) commences May 2008 and Post Office Ltd have confirmed that they will carefully consider the comments in the petition as part of the consultation process.

The Government does not have a role in proposals or decisions for individual post offices and final decisions on which post offices will close are taken by Post Office Ltd.

The Petition of the Community Council and residents of Boat of Garten and vicinity, Inverness-shire, Scotland,

Declares that the Petitioners are concerned for the future of their local Post Office in Boat of Garten and the damaging economic and social effects that any closure would have on their community. Further declares that the Boat of Garten Post Office is widely supported by local residents, businesses and visitors to the Cairngorms National Park and that public transport is insufficient to allow vulnerable residents access to any other Post Office.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to ensure that Boat of Garten Post Office is retained before irreparable damage is done to the well-being, sustainability and cohesion of our community.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Danny Alexander, Official Report, 13 November 2007; Vol. 467, c. 644.] [P000055]

Observations from the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform:

The Government fully recognises the important social and economic role of post offices, particularly in rural and deprived urban communities. That is why it is determined to maintain a national post office network allowing people to have reasonable access across the whole country and has put in place a new policy and financial framework to achieve this. The Government has been investing substantial sums in the post office network, totalling £2 billion since 1999. That has, for example, paid for a computer link-up for every post office as well as support for non-commercial branches since 2003. It has decided to extend that support to 2011 with the provision of up to another £1 billion additional funding.

In its response to the consultation on the Post Office network the Government announced back in May confirmation of its decision to extend funding of up to £1.7 billion to 2011, including provision of £150 million Social Network Payment to support the post office network up to 2011. The Government strategy includes provision for 2,500 compensated closures and 500 new Outreach services.

The 500 new and innovative Outreach locations, operated in partnership with other local services such as in pubs, village halls, churches or in mobile post offices, will mitigate closures, primarily in smaller and more remote communities. Nevertheless, to ensure sustainability, there will need to be up to 2,500 compensated post office closures within the defined access criteria.

Post Office Limited (POL) is responsible for implementing the network change programme at a local level. It is developing a rolling programme of some 50 local consultations on detailed area plans, based on groups of Parliamentary constituencies. The first area plans went out to local consultation on 2 October this year and these plans will continue to be rolled out at regular intervals until next July with the whole programme scheduled to take around 15 months to complete. The consultation period for the Highlands of Scotland will commence 8 January 2008 and is expected to conclude 18 February 2008.

POL develops its proposals with the participation of sub-postmasters, local authorities and the consumer watchdog, Postwatch, and takes into account the numeric access criteria set out by Government as well as local factors affecting ease of access, such as local geography: rivers, mountains etc when drawing up its implementation plans. POL is also 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. Local consultations provide the opportunity to raise any specific concerns over particular proposals.

The Government does not have a role in proposals or decisions for individual post offices and final decisions on which post offices will close are taken by POL in light of the responses received to the area consultations.

The Petition of people of Boston and the Boston Bypass Pressure Group,

Declares that they are dissatisfied with the short-term road strategy proposed by Lincolnshire County council for Boston and want a major road scheme to allow traffic to flow around, and have access to, the town centre, to ease the appalling congestion and prevent damaging economic and environmental impacts upon Boston.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for Transport to give recognition to the needs of the failing road infrastructure of Boston and South East Lincolnshire; and further urges the Government to make Boston a special case for investment to improve the social, environmental and economic conditions of the town.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Mark Simmonds, Official Report, 12 December 2007; Vol. 469, c. 430.] [P000075]

Observations from the Secretary of State for Transport:

It is for Lincolnshire County Council, as the local highway authority, to determine priorities for local transport investment and to make bids for funding through the Regional Funding Allocation (RFA) process for major transport schemes i.e. the regional statement of priorities for transport investment.

In July 2005, the Government asked each English region to submit advice about how the anticipated funding available for major transport schemes should be allocated over the next ten years. This involved each region determining the relative priorities of its proposed transport schemes in the light of an anticipated regional budget. Throughout, Lincolnshire County Council was fully engaged in this process. A proposed Bypass for Boston was not put forward for assessment by the Council as part of the process and did not, therefore, receive priority for funding in the East Midlands advice submitted to the Government in January 2006 which was accepted by the Government in July 2006. A bypass of Boston does not therefore feature as a scheme to be delivered before 2015/16.

As part of the Government’s response to the regions in July 2006, Ministers have stated that they expect to hold a further round of the regional funding process in the next three years. This will provide a further opportunity for supporters of a bypass for Boston to make sure the case for a scheme is heard within the region.