Written question asked by Patsy Calton (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 4 December 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 December 2003. It was answered by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 December 2003 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what definition of deprivation issued for the half-mile rule applied to post office closures.

Answer: Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what definition of deprivation is used for the half-mile rule applied to post office closures. [143036] Mr. Timms: There is no such rule but, in England, post office branches in the 20 per cent. most deprived wards (as defined by the Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2000) and more than half a mile from the nearest alternative post office are, other than in exceptional circumstances, ring fenced from inclusion in closure proposals under the Urban Reinvention programme. In Scotland and Wales the relevant national indices are used.

Secondary information