To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to his Department's announcement of 27 November 2013 on Post Office branch modernisation, how many Post Offices have benefited to date from the dedicated fund to support smaller community branches.

Since the landmark £20 million Post Office Community Fund started accepting applications in June 2014 more than 340 Community post offices have applied for funding. More than 250 of these proposals have been approved to date and of these more than 85 have been completed, bringing significant benefits to communities, customers and subpostmasters across the UK. The fund remains open for applications and the Government encourages eligible branches to apply for investment.