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Written question asked by Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Labour) on Monday, 3 December 2018, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 5 December 2018. It was answered by Kelly Tolhurst (Conservative) on Thursday, 6 December 2018 on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

WH Smith: Post Offices

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many of the 41 Crown post offices that are proposed to be franchised to WH Smith have Applicant Enrolment Identification (AEI) machines; and how many of those AEI machines are planned to be relocated to the franchisee’s stores.

Answer

The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK. This is why the Government committed to safeguard the post office network and protect existing rural services. The overall number of post offices across the UK remains at its most stable in decades with over 11,500 branches thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010.

While the Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office, it allows the company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent business. The distribution of branches is an operational matter of commercial judgement for Post Office management team. I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the Group Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, to write to the hon Member on this matter. A copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
198327
Session
2017-19
Related items
Deposited Paper DEP2019-0011
Monday, 10 December 2018
Deposited papers
House of Commons
Subjects
Equipment Post offices WH Smith
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk