Post Offices

Sue Doughty
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices there are in each parliamentary constituency; and how many of them transact more than 40 per cent. of their work from paying benefits and pensions. [107044]

Mr. Timms
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 9 January 2003, Official Report, column 299W.

Sue Doughty
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) post offices and (b) sub-post offices there were in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) each region in March (A) 1999, (B) 2000, (C) 2001 and (D) 2002. [107045]

Mr. Timms
I understand from Post Office Ltd. that the total numbers of post offices in the United Kingdom and each region/country is only available from March 2000 and are as follows: ----------------------
|Region/Country      |
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|North East          |
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|North West          |
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|Yorkshire and Humber|
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|West Midlands       |
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|South West          |
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|South East          |
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|London              |
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|East of England     |
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|East Midlands   |
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|Northern Ireland|
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|Scotland        |
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|Wales           |
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|UK Total        |
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