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Dept of Trade and Industry

Answer

Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many former T & S Stores plc post offices have been closed by Tesco since it took over T & S Stores plc; [161902] (2) how many post offices there were in T & S Stores plc before takeover by Tesco plc. [161903] Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices that Tesco announced would be closed since it took over T&S Stores have since been reprieved by Tesco. [161862] Mr. Timms: [holding answers 16 March 2004]: Tesco acquired the T&S Group chain of convenience stores in October 2002 when in total 318 T&S stores trading under the `One Stop' and `Billons' contained Post Office branches. In taking over T&S, Tesco took over the Post Office contracts for the individual sites and has since been reviewing how many of these Post Offices will be retained. Tesco has committed to giving six months notice of its intention to terminate any contract, allowing Post Office Ltd. sufficient opportunity to find alternative partners to continue to offer post office services in close proximity to the existing location, and to working with all parties to seek a smooth changeover process for customers in the area where there remains a need for post office provision. As Post Office Ltd. has operational responsibility for the post office network, only it can propose permanent closure of a post office branch. I understand from the company that, to date, Tesco has given notice of its decision to terminate the post office contract in respect of 38 locations. In all cases the period of notice for withdrawing from the contract is still running and no closures have yet taken place. Any reversal of such a decision would be a commercial and operational matter for Tesco and Post Office Ltd.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

419 c331-2W;419 c333-4W; 161902;161903;161862

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Closures Post offices Tesco T and S Stores

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk