To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of the change in the frequency of personal travel and car usage in rural areas resulting from the closure of rural post offices. (180794)

No such assessment has been made by my Department. But, in developing its proposals for post office closures and new outreach service points, Post Office Ltd. takes into account the Government's access criteria and wider factors relating to accessibility of post office services, including availability of public transport.