Post Offices

Mr. Laws
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many post office branches were (a) opened and (b) closed in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. McFadden
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.

Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.