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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many Crown Post Offices across the UK are currently not providing post office services.

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 management of the Crown network is an operational matter for Post Office Limited. Paula Vennells, the Group Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, will write to the hon Member this matter. A copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.