To ask Her Majesty's Government how many functions of the Post Office in Scotland generate income for the Scottish Government and Scottish local authorities; what that income is; and how the costs of collection are accounted. [HL328]

Post Office Limited provides both automated and manual transcash bill payment services through its nationwide network of branches and many local authorities use the Post Office to allow their customers to make payments such as council tax, rent payments and other miscellaneous payments. In Scotland, customers of all 32 local authorities can use the Post Office for specific bill payments—the income and costs for these services is commercially confidential information.