To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the minimum number of post office branches is that would allow Post Office Ltd to fulfil the minimum access criteria laid down in the Network Change programme. (182063)

[holding answer 25 January 2008]: Post Office Ltd. currently estimates that the minimum size of network necessary to meet the access criteria is around 7,500 offices. But it remains Government policy to maintain a sustainable network of around 11,500 post offices and the £1.7 billion funding package announced on 17 May supports the network at that level to 2011. The access criteria set a minimum floor for the network size and Post Office Ltd. has been asked to undertake, in consultation with Postwatch, an updated study and analysis of the minimum number of post offices required to meet the access criteria.