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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Post Office plans to subsidise the differential between WHSmiths' remuneration package and the Post Office remuneration package where post offices have been franchised to WHSmith.

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.