Trade and Industry written question – answered at on 3 March 2006.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) nature, (b) duration and (c) location is of pilot studies to (i) assist with the long-term viability of post offices and (ii) assess the viability of remote post office branches after the end of the Post Office card account.
holding answer
Post Office Ltd. is conducting trials of modern, innovative ways of delivering post office services to rural communities. The trials will operate for 12 months and are focused on a 'Core and Outreach' approach. There are four types of Outreach service being piloted:
Hosted (fixed or portable)—a full service offer by the sub-postmaster/mistress (SPM) or a fully trained employee;
Partner Service—a basic service (e.g. access to cash, bill payment, stamps, weighing and leaving parcels) provided by another retailer alongside their main business, generally a petrol station or pub. The Core SPM maintains a remote overview and provides the site with the products required.
Home Service—a full service is offered via telephone or internet ordering. The SPM then arranges to deliver, in person or by post, the products requested.
Mobile—a full service is offered by a mobile post office visiting a number of locations at set times.
I have asked Post Office Ltd. to publish a report detailing findings on its pilot activity and expect them to do so shortly.
The locations of the 'Core and Outreach' pilots are detailed in the following table.
Core site | Outreach site | Type of pilot activity |
---|---|---|
Castle Douglas (Dumfries and Galloway) | Crocketford | Portable Hosted |
Haugh of Urr | Portable Hosted | |
Twynholm | Portable Hosted | |
Leven (Fife) | Windygates | Fixed Hosted |
Colinsburgh | Portable Hosted | |
Wick (Sutherland) | Reiss | Mobile |
Keiss | Mobile | |
Auchergill | Mobile | |
Mey | Mobile | |
Thrumster | Mobile | |
Pembroke (Pembrokeshire) | Castlemartin | Home Service (telephone only) |
Hundleton | Home Service (telephone only) | |
St. Florence | Portable Hosted | |
Llandeilo (Carmarthenshire) | Carmel | Portable Hosted |
Ffairfach | Portable Hosted | |
Llanarthney | Portable Hosted | |
Rhydlewis (Ceredigion) | Abermeurig | Mobile |
Joppa | Mobile | |
Blaenanerch | Mobile | |
Talsarn | Mobile | |
Cribyn | Mobile | |
Rathfriland (County Down) | Kilcoo | Fixed Hosted |
Mays Corner | Fixed Hosted | |
Ballinaskeagh | Fixed Hosted/Partner Service | |
Enniskillen (County Fermanagh) | Monea | Mobile |
Lack | Mobile | |
Aldeburgh (Suffolk) | Campsea Ash | Home Service |
Middleton | Home Service | |
Tunstall | Home Service | |
Kettleburgh | Home Service | |
Brandston | Home Service | |
Snape | Portable Hosted | |
Tuxford (Nottinghamshire) | Norwell | Home Service/Portable Hosted |
East Markham | Home Service/Portable Hosted | |
Kirton | Home Service | |
Burscough Bridge (Lancashire) | Bescar Lane | Portable Hosted |
Haskayne | Partner Service | |
Syston (Leicestershire) | Rearsby | Portable Hosted |
Bedale (North Yorkshire) | Crakehall | Portable Hosted/Partner |
Leeming Bar | Portable Hosted | |
North Stainley | Portable Hosted | |
Swaffham (Norfolk) | Sporle | Portable Hosted |
Henfield (Sussex) | Bolney | Fixed Hosted |
Glastonbury (Somerset) | Wookey | Fixed Hosted |
Godney | Home Service (telephone only) | |
Okehampton (Devon) | Sticklepath | Portable Hosted |
Appleby | Brampton | Home Service |
Blencarn | Home Service | |
Mynytho (Gwynedd) | Abererch Road | Mobile |
Borth Y Gest | Mobile | |
Bwlchtocyn | Mobile | |
Clynnogfawr | Mobile | |
Minffordd | Mobile | |
Nasareth | Mobile | |
Ashford Road (Maidstone) | Harrietsham | Fixed Hosted |
Chart Sutton | Fixed Hosted | |
East Farleigh | Fixed Hosted | |
Tow Law | Fir Tree | Mobile |
Witton Park | Mobile | |
Escombe | Mobile | |
Whitton Le Wear | Mobile | |
Toronto | Mobile | |
Cornsay Colliery | Mobile |
Yes0 people think so
No0 people think not
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