To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department is taking steps to help support the Post Office to (a) recruit postmasters and (b) maintain existing post offices.

While Government recognises the important role postmasters play in our communities and for small businesses across the UK, issues surrounding staffing are an operational matter for the Post Office.

Government protects the branch network by setting minimum access criteria, and protects services by setting minimum services to be provided at post offices across the country. The Post Office network meets the access criteria at a national level.