Written question asked by Annabelle Ewing (Scottish National Party) on Wednesday, 17 October 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 29 October 2001. It was answered by Douglas Alexander (Labour) on Monday, 29 October 2001 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, how many post offices (a) opened and (b) closed in Scotland in each of the last three years. - Includes figures for post offices operating in Scotland. (Holding answer 23 October 2001).

Answer: Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices (a) opened and (b) closed in Scotland in each of the last three years. [9219] Mr. Alexander: [holding answer 23 October 2001]: I am informed by the Post Office Ltd. that historical data on the numbers of post office openings and closures are not maintained separately. The numbers of post offices operating in Scotland over the last three financial years were as follows: End March 1998--2,051 End March 1999--2,026 End March 2000--1,999 End March 2001--1,936. I am informed by the Post Office that an on-going revision of data has affected individual country totals. I also understand that, across the UK as a whole, of the closures in the year ending March 2001, the Post Office designate only four as permanent. A £2 million fund to support relocation and refurbishment initiatives by volunteer or community groups to maintain or reopen post office facilities in rural areas where the traditional post office is closing received parliamentary approval in July.

Secondary information