Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what forecast his Department has made of the saving to the public purse from the relocation of the Crown Post Office in Rhyl.

The Post Office’s directly managed Crown network has incurred heavy and historic losses (totalling £26 million in the Post Office’s last reported full financial year). Eliminating these losses is a key element of the Post Office’s strategy to provide for the long-term sustainable future of the network.

As part of that strategy the Post Office is seeking to franchise a number of its Crown post offices, as is the case with Rhyl. The Government supports the business in delivering that strategy.

As changes to its Crown Post Office network is the operational responsibility of the Post Office I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the Chief Executive of Post Office Ltd, to write to you on this matter. A copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.