To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it will use to determine applications for funding to sustain local postal services, in addition to the resources being made available by Her Majesty’s Government.

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support business in post offices by ensuring that local authorities offer facilities for paying council tax, rent and traffic fines, applying for housing, council tax benefit and disabled parking badges and examining planning applications and other online applications at local post offices.

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that local authorities offer maximum rate relief to post offices in each local authority area.

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide resources for full business rate relief for post offices that are linked to shops, filling stations or other local facilities.

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it considers should be applied in a strategic network of post offices and what funding it could provide to assist funding such a network.

To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be an appropriate level of subsidy for post offices and for how long such subsidy should be paid.

Officials are currently examining the Department of Trade and Industry’s plans for the Post Office network to see where the Scottish Executive can add value. We will seek to do all we can within our devolved powers to secure the best possible outcome for Scotland. Ministers will shortly meet with representatives from Royal Mail Group to discuss the Scottish context in more detail.