Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for how long the Post Office is planning to subsidise the staff costs of franchised Crown post officers following the announcement that 74 Crown post offices will be closed or franchised.

WHSmith have been operating Post Offices in their High Street Stores since 2006.

The agreement between the Post Office and WHSmith is a commercial agreement between them and as such the financial terms of the deal are commercially confidential and cannot be publicly disclosed. However, the Post Office has been clear in its duty of care for any staff affected, in that they have the right to transfer their employment to the franchise partner in line with TUPE legislation and there might also be opportunities for redeployment or voluntary settlement.

WHSmith have been operating Post Offices in their High Street Stores since 2006.