Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Post Office Closures

Thursday 12 December 2024 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Luke Akehurst asked about the potential impact of Post Office closures on high streets.
  • The Minister responded that no decisions have been made regarding closures, including in Chester-le-Street.
  • The Minister acknowledged the importance of maintaining access to post office services to support high street vitality.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Luke Akehurst Lab North Durham
Housing Transport Local Government
Context

Concerns over potential post office closures and their effect on local communities, specifically mentioning Chester-le-Street.

Question

What assessment has been made of the potential impact of Post Office closures on high streets? The post office in Chester-le-Street, North Durham, which has served the community since 1936, offers vital services to constituents and is crucial for maintaining footfall and attracting other businesses. Keeping these services accessible is essential.

Answer from Gareth Thomas

No decisions have been taken on the future of any directly managed branches, including in Chester-le-Street. The Government set minimum access criteria to ensure that 99% of the UK population live within 3 miles of a post office. We are determined to work with the Post Office to strengthen the network.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific commitment or plan was provided regarding the assessment of potential impacts.

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Q2 Luke Akehurst Lab North Durham
Context

The post office in Chester-le-Street has been operating since 1936 and provides essential services to the local community, impacting footfall on the high street.

Question

Does the Minister agree that keeping those services accessible is vital to keeping footfall on our high streets and encouraging other businesses to locate themselves there?

Answer from Gareth Thomas

I recognise the significance of the post office in my hon. Friend's constituency, as indeed I recognise the significance of post offices in my constituency and across the UK. It is important to maintain access to post office services as they play a crucial role in the high street.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Acknowledged importance but did not provide specific measures or commitments for maintaining accessibility.

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