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Hospital Trusts
Mr. Knapman : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has reached a decision on the Royal group of hospitals' application for health and social services trust status ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : I have decided to establish the Royal group of hospitals as a health and social services trust to become operational on 1 April 1993.
In making my decision I considered carefully the Royal group of hospitals' application and the comments made on it during consultation.
As a trust, the Royal group of hospitals will continue to be a regional centre of excellence with a commitment to the provision of services to its local community and to teaching and research. The trust will remain firmly within the Northern Ireland health and personal social services
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and will continue to be financed from public funds. However, it will have new freedoms and I am confident that the trust will use these to benefit patients and improve its quality of service while giving greater job satisfaction to its employees. I am also confident that the trust will build on the existing involvement of senior professional staff in the management of the unit.Consultation on the application revealed a number of problems which need to be resolved concerning the future of the Royal group of hospitals. In order to give time for these matters to be addressed I have decided to delay the operational date of the trust for one year. In the meantime the Eastern health and social services board will retain overall managerial responsibility for the unit. A shadow board for the trust will be appointed which will take over full responsibility for the Royal group of hospitals from April 1993.
Stillbirths
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what will be (a) the initial costs and (b) the annual running costs of confidential inquiries into stillbirths and infant deaths in Northern Ireland ; and what additional funds he is making available to (i) the Northern Ireland Office, (ii) the General Register Office and (iii) health and social services boards to (a) set up and (b) run the inquiries.
Mr. Hanley : Resources will be made available to allow Northern Ireland to participate fully in the national confidential inquiry. It will not be possible, however, to provide detailed information about the funding and costs of the inquiry in Northern Ireland until expert advice on its design and content has been formulated by the national advisory board which is being set up to guide and oversee the work throughout the United Kingdom.
WALES
Publicity
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, in declining order of size of print run, all leaflets and circulars printed by him for general or mass circulation distribution in the past two years on education, health, and other topics relating to his departmental responsibilities, and their cost in each case.
Mr. David Hunt : The information requested by the hon. Gentleman is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979-80 and in each following year ; and what are his latest estimates for 1991-92 and budgets for 1992-93.
Mr. David Hunt : A breakdown of annual expenditure by the Welsh Office in advertising and other publicity from 1979-80 to 1990-91 is set out in the following table.
Publicity expenditure in 1991-92 is planned to be about £2,000,000. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of this under each heading because in many cases decisions
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about the extent to which different media will be used are taken as projects develop. Budgets for 1992-93 have yet to be finalised.Column 51
Welsh Office Publicity Spend
Year |Radio |Television |<1>Joint Press|Press |Other
|Advertising |Advertising |and Television|Advertising
|Advertising |Material
|(£ ,000) |(£ ,000) |(£ ,000) |(£ ,000) |(£ ,000)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979-80 |Nil |61 |24
1980-81 |Nil |62 |22
1981-82 |Nil |100 |44
1982-83 |Nil |99 |28
1983-84 |Nil |108 |34
1984-85 |Nil |66 |100
1985-86 |Nil |Nil |31 |92
1986-87 |Nil |27 |49 |331
1987-88 |Nil |39 |191 |615
1988-89 |Nil |64 |112 |1,105
1989-90 |Nil |57 |354 |1,758
1990-91 |Nil |17 |251 |1,161
<1> Television and Press advertising for the years 1979-85 cannot be readily separated.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979- 80, and each following year ; and what is his estimate for 1991-92 and budget for 1992-93.
Mr. David Hunt : Figures for expenditure by the Department's information division, including staff and press cutting service, but excluding media advertising and promotional material, cannot readily be disaggregated for the years 1979-80 to 1987-88.
Figures for the succeeding years are :
|£
------------------------
1988-89 |469,000
1989-90 |487,000
1990-91 |481,000
Estimated expenditure for 1991-92 is in the region of £530,000. Budgets for 1992-93 have yet to be finalised.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide an up-to-date list of each television advertising campaign carried out, or to be carried out, by his Department during 1991-92, and for each other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000, giving for each (a) the topic, (b) the commencement date, (c) the duration and (d) the advertising, promotional and public relations companies involved.
Mr. David Hunt : The Welsh Office does not plan to run any television campaigns.
The Department will run five publicity campaigns in 1991-92 costing more than £100,000.
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Campaign |Timing |Companies
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enterprise Wales |Ongoing |McCann Erickson Payne Golley/
|Hall Harrison Cowley
Road Safety |Ongoing |Dragon Advertising/Hall Harrison
|Cowley
Drug and Alcohol Misuse |Ongoing |Hall Harrison Cowley
Parents Charter |Commenced 27 September 1991 |None commissioned by Welsh Office
Patients Charter |Commenced 28 October 1991 |None commissioned by Welsh Office
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department has sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.
Mr. David Hunt : Yes. Such direct marketing to date includes distribution of agricultural information to farmers, valleys promotional literature, community charge information and promotional material for the Enterprise Wales scheme.
Infant Deaths
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what will be (a) the initial costs and (b) the annual running costs of confidential inquiries into stillbirths and infant deaths in Wales ; and what additional funds he is making available to (i) the Welsh Office and (ii) health authorities to (a) set up and (b) run the inquiries.
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Mr. Nicholas Bennett : The confidential enquiry into stillbirths and infant deaths was announced by my hon. Friend the Minister for Health on 2 July 1991. Wales will take a full part in the enquiry.
Heart Specialists
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will indicate where in the health authorities of Wales there is a shortage of consultant heart specialists ;
(2) what steps he will take to eliminate the shortage of consultant heart specialists in order to reduce waiting lists ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : The Welsh Medical and Dental Manpower Committee advises the Department on the relative priority of consultant appointments and reflects in its recommendations any shortages identified by district health authorities.
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The latest information shows no shortage in this speciality.Sports Clubs
Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many non- profit making sports clubs in Wales applied for rate relief for each of the financial years 1979-80 to 1991-92 and as a total over the same period ; and how many of these clubs were granted rate relief of
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(a) 25 per cent. or under, (b) 25 to 50 per cent., (c) 50 to 65 per cent., (d) 65 to 90 per cent. and (e) 90 to 100 per cent.Mr. Nicholas Bennett : The information requested for the years 1979- 80 to 1988-89 is not available. Information relating to discretionary rate relief for non-profit making clubs used for recreational purposes, including sporting organisations, for 1989-90 and 1990-91 is shown in the following table :
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Number of Total number Number of properties granted relief of up to:
|applications |awarded relief |20 per cent. |21-50 per cent. |51-80 per cent. |Over 80 per cent.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1989-90 |Not known |744 |19 |408 |156 |161
1990-91 |756 |673 |105 |297 |80 |191
Information for 1991-92 will not be available before September 1992.
Press and Publicity Staff
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether any member of his Department's press and publicity staff accompanied him in Blackpool during the Conservative party conference.
EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
Teachers (Pension Scheme)
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to equalise female contributor survivor benefits within the teachers' superannuation pension scheme.
Mr. Fallon : With effect from 6 April 1988 widowers' pension benefits and associated benefits for children are payable in every case, subject to completion of the necessary qualifying period. Individual female teachers had the option at the time to elect to purchase service before 1988 for benefits if they so wished.
Manchester Schools (Repairs)
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further recent representations he has had about the urgency of the need for additional funding for repairs to Manchester's school buildings ; what response he has made ; what action he is taking ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Fallon : I recently met an all-party delegation from Manchester city council to discuss its capital programme for 1992-93. I was able to allocate funds through the issue of a supplementary credit approval over and above Manchester's existing capital allocation for this year, to enable the LEA to start urgently needed work in two of its primary schools--Chapel Street and Charlestown. This will entail a total government commitment of some £6 million for an immediate start in 1991-92.
Manchester's bid for 1992-93 is being considered in the normal way. Its allocation will be announced in December.
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Press and Publicity Staff
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether any member of his Department's press and publicity staff accompanied him in Blackpool during the Conservative party conference.
Adult Education
Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultation he has undertaken with those directly involved in educating adults, in relation to his White Paper proposals on adult education ; and how many meetings have been held with adult educators.
Mr. Eggar : Among those my right hon. and learned Friend and I have met in this context are the National Institute for Adult Continuing Education, the National Federation of Women's Institutes, the Pre- Retirement Association, and the principals of Devon community colleges and Richmond adult and community college.
School Inspectors
Mr. Straw : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the procedure for the appointment of each of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools ; what is the role of the Privy Council in such appointments ; and by what procedure inspectors may be made redundant or otherwise have their employment terminated.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : Her Majesty's inspectors are recruited by open competition after advertisements in the national and education press. The holder of my office recommends the names of prospective HMI through the Privy Council to Her Majesty the Queen. Any terminations of employment would be made in accordance with central guidance currently operating within the civil service.
Publicity
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979-80 and in each following year ; and what is his estimate for 1991-92 and budget for 1992-93.
Mr. Eggar : The expenditure figures for press and publicity by this Department for the financial years
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1984-85 to 1991-92 are given in the table. Figures for 1979-80 to 1983-84 are not available on a comparable basis. The figure for 1991-92 is estimated expenditure. The Government's expenditure plans for 1992-93 will be announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his autumn statement. The Department does not incur expenditure on public relations.Year |£ 000 --------------------------- 1984-85 |788.8 1985-86 |1,026.3 1986-87 |1,937.8 1987-88 |2,313.6 1988-89 |2,336.2 1989-90 |2,596.0 1990-91 |2,106.5 <1>1991-92 |4,881.0 <1>Estimated.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide an up-to-date list of each television advertising campaign carried out, or to be carried out, by his Department during 1991- 92, and of each other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000, giving for each (a) the topic, (b) the commencement date, (c) the duration and (d) the advertising, promotional and public relations companies involved.
Mr. Eggar : My right hon. and learned Friend launched a teacher recruitment campaign on 1 July which included advertising on television for a period of three weeks and advertisements in the national press for four weeks. The second phase of this campaign began on 27 September and included advertisements in the national press for four weeks and in cinemas in selected towns for six alternating weeks. The campaign has been designed by Saatchi and Saatchi Advertising Ltd.
The parents charter was launched on 27 September. Advertisements were scheduled to appear in national newspapers and women's magazines from 27 September until 31 October. In addition, it is planned to place some advertisements in the ethnic minority community press. The company involved is BMP DDB Needham.
An exhibition to provide parents with information about recent changes in education will also be launched in the current financial year. HP:ICM has been commissioned to mount the exhibition which will visit a number of venues across the country. The timing and duration of this campaign has yet to be finalised.
The professional, industrial and commercial updating (PICKUP) programme continues to support and encourage colleges, polytechnics and universities to improve and increase their provision to meet the training needs of employers and their employees. The Services to Business campaign, run as part of the PICKUP programme, is managed by Quadrangle Communications Ltd.
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Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department has sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.
Mr. Eggar : The Department has not sent unsolicited mail direct to members of the public. It is the practice of the Department, however, to send sample copies of publicity material for parents to libraries and to schools, offering the latter the opportunity to order additional stocks to distribute to pupils to give to their parents.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979-80 and in each following year ; and what are his latest estimates for 1991-92 and budgets for 1992-93.
Mr. Eggar : The expenditure figures for advertising and other promotional materials by this Department for the financial years 1979-80 to 1991-92 are given in the table. The figure for 1991-92 is estimated expenditure. The Government's expenditure plans for 1992-93 will be announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his autumn statement. The rise in expenditure since 1989-90 is the result of the teachers recruitment campaign and the parents charter.
Year |Television|Radio |Newspaper |Other
|£ 000 |£ 000 |£ 000 |£ 000
------------------------------------------------------------------
1979-80 |- |- |91.6 |12.2
1980-81 |- |- |8.9 |58.3
1981-82 |- |- |86.9 |49.9
1982-83 |- |- |6.0 |33.7
1983-84 |- |- |9.6 |74.9
1984-85 |- |- |18.5 |150.6
1985-86 |- |- |14.8 |184.1
1986-87 |- |- |532.0 |533.0
1987-88 |- |- |280.0 |1,459.0
1988-89 |- |40.0 |475.0 |1,156.0
1989-90 |- |11.8 |238.0 |1,150.0
1990-91 |1,100.0 |97.0 |1,407.0 |1,916.0
<1>1991-92 |812.0 |- |2,049.0 |4,081.0
<1> Estimated
Education Spending
Mrs. Beckett : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a series going back to 1978-79 in (a) cash prices, (b) 1990-91 prices and (c) as a proportion of GDP, Government spending on education, sub-divided into primary, secondary and others both in total and divided into (i) capital spending, net and gross of receipts, and (ii) current.
Mr. Fallon : The available information on actual expenditure by the Department of Education and Science is shown in the tables. The records do not show a breakdown of expenditure between the primary and secondary schools sector. The figures for receipts appropriated in aid are aggregated for schools and other education and do not distinguish between capital and recurrent receipts.
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Department of Education and Science: Expenditure
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash
Schools
capital |16 |20 |22 |24 |22 |19 |25 |31 |27 |32 |57 |82 |115
current |24 |27 |26 |29 |29 |26 |44 |56 |62 |74 |84 |<1>102 |<1>128
Other
capital |82 |108 |116 |121 |124 |122 |126 |138 |152 |151 |166 |<2>254 |<2>292
current |1,120 |1,360 |1,731 |1,900 |2,016 |2,151 |2,191 |2,217 |2,294 |2,606 |2,818 |<2>4,074|<2>4,725
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |1,242 |1,515 |1,895 |2,074 |2,191 |2,318 |2,386 |2,442 |2,535 |2,863 |3,125 |4,512 |5,260
Receipts
appropriated in aid |9 |14 |2 |4 |4 |8 |9 |8 |10 |11 |12 |<1>12 |<1>15
1990-91 prices
Schools
capital |40 |43 |40 |40 |34 |28 |35 |42 |35 |39 |65 |88 |115
current |61 |58 |48 |48 |45 |27 |62 |75 |80 |91 |96 |110 |128
Other
capital |207 |234 |212 |202 |193 |181 |178 |185 |197 |186 |190 |274 |292
current |2,825 |2,941 |3,163 |3,166 |3,136 |3,199 |3,101 |2,976 |2,976 |3,209 |3,230 |4,390 |4,725
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |3,133 |3,277 |3,462 |3,456 |3,409 |3,447 |3,376 |3,278 |3,288 |3,526 |3,582 |4,862 |5,260
Receipts |23 |30 |4 |7 |6 |12 |13 |11 |13 |14 |14 |13 |15
As a proportion of
GDP
Schools
capital |0.009 |0.010 |0.009 |0.009 |0.008 |0.006 |0.008 |0.009 |0.007 |0.008 |0.012 |0.016 |0.021
current |0.014 |0.013 |0.011 |0.011 |0.010 |0.009 |0.014 |0.016 |0.016 |0.017 |0.018 |0.020 |0.023
Other
capital |0.048 |0.053 |0.050 |0.047 |0.044 |0.040 |0.039 |0.039 |0.040 |0.036 |0.035 |0.050 |0.053
current |0.656 |0.664 |0.741 |0.741 |0.719 |0.707 |0.672 |0.622 |0.598 |0.614 |0.597 |0.799 |0.864
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |0.728 |0.739 |0.811 |0.809 |0.781 |0.762 |0.732 |0.685 |0.661 |0.675 |0.662 |0.885 |0.962
<1> Figures do not include annual maintenance grant to GM schools, recouped from LEAs. The cash figures for this were £ 15 million for
1989-90 and £ 59 million for 1990-91.
<2>Includes institutions transferred from LEA sector.
Devonport Schools
Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will approve immediately the proposal by Devon county council to reorganise Devonport schools in Plymouth by closing St. Peter's and designating Devonport secondary school as a Church-aided four-form entry comprehensive school for 11 to 16-year-olds.
Mr. Fallon : The proposals under sections 12 and 13 of the Education Act 1980 to which my hon. Friend refers were published on 5 July and are currently before the Secretary of State. My right hon. Friend aims to reach decisions on such proposals within five months from the date of publication if possible.
St. Anne's School, Rock Ferry
Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will approve plans for St. Anne's primary school, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, which are now lodged with his Department.
Mr. Fallon : The capital plans put forward by local education authorities for 1992-93 are still under consideration and decisions will be announced in December.
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Public Opinion Surveys
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the public opinion surveys carried out by his Department since 11 July 1991.
Mr. Eggar : Since 11 July, the Department has not conducted any widespread public opinion surveys but has undertaken some market research.
Reading Standards
Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to respond to the third report, Session 1990-91, of the Education, Science and Arts Committee on standards of reading in primary schools.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : I have written today to the Chairman of the Select Committee, setting out the Government's response.
The report is an important timely contribution to the current debate on reading standards in schools. Its conclusion that a fall in reading standards has not been proved beyond reasonable doubt provides no grounds for complacency. Rather it highlights the inadequacies of our present data, and the need for a reliable and consistent basis for the measurement of pupils' attainments. This is just what the national curriculum and the associated testing arrangements will provide.
Reading is the most fundamental of skills and the Government are determined to ensure that standards are
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improved in line with society's ever-more demanding needs for literacy. My response to the Select Committee sets out the steps we are taking to secure such improvements, notably through the implementation of the national curriculum which establishes clear national targets for pupils' reading across the full age range for compulsory education. Pupils' progress will be measured against those targets at the ages of seven, 11, 14 and 16. The results will help teachers to build up a detailed picture of each pupil's strengths and weaknesses to inform their teaching. They will also give parents the accurate information about their children's progress to which they are entitled under the parents charter. In aggregate they will in due course enable comparisons to be made of pupils' performance, for example, between the sexes, between local education authorities and between schools. I shall shortly publish an analysis of the results of the first tests of the performance of pupils at the age of seven. The recent changes that I have announced to the system of testing of seven-year olds will give more detailed information to parents and the public next year. Teachers will be required to make a more precise grading of the reading attainments of those seven-year olds--roughly half the age group in 1991--who were assessed as of average ability for their age. We shall also be introducing for the first time in 1992 an optional written test of reading comprehension which will likewise be aimed at pupils of average ability and yield a finer grading of their attainments.All schools should strive to match the standards of the best. The Government have taken a number of measures to promote good practice in the teaching of reading. HMI's findings on good practice based on a report produced last January have been circulated to schools, and discussed at regional conferences for LEA inspectors and advisers. HMI has also provided guidance for schools on how to improve their libraries. Substantial resources have been made available for books related to the national curriculum and the training of school library staff, as well as for in- service teacher training.
Local education authorities should ensure that reading standards in their area are kept under review. The Government have urged all education committees to take an active and critical interest in this. The report rightly emphasises the importance of the active engagement of parents. Schools will be required to include in all reports the name of a contact with whom parents can discuss their children's progress. The Government are also supporting projects designed to strengthen home-school links, particularly in inner-city areas. Copies of the Government's response are being placed in the Library of the House.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Nursery
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the dates during last Session on which the hon. Members' staff's union, the Transport and General Workers Union parliamentary branch, has been consulted about establishment of a nursery for their children ; and if he has any plans to consult their union in the coming parliamentary year.
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Mr. MacGregor : In accordance with a decision on the Services Committee, no survey of potential demand will be undertaken until detailed advice is received on the feasibility of establishing a child care facility in the parliamentary estate.
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Lord President of the Council what progress has been made in the last Session towards establishment of a nursery for the children of hon. Members' staff.
Mr. MacGregor : I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply of 22 July 1991, Hansard, column 386. Possible suitable accommodation for a child care facility in advance of phase 2 is still being sought. This will be an early matter for consideration by the Accommodation and Works Committee as soon as it is established.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Regional Selective Assistance
Mr. Hind : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the number of applications received from businesses in the north-west region for regional selective assistance in 1990-91 and 1991-92.
Mr. Leigh : In the financial year 1990-91 my Department received 354 applications for assistance from businesses in the north-west region under the regional selective assistance scheme. Between 1 April 1991 and 31 October 1991 a further 280 applications were received from businesses in that region.
Note : The north-west region includes the counties of Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside and the High Peak district of Derbyshire.
Computers
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will summarise the findings of his review of trade in computers ; and what is his estimate of the percentage of exports imported in (i) the same form and (ii) after further processing in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Sainsbury : This review has now been published and is available in the House of Commons Library, entitled "Broad Balance of Trade of Major Companies in the Electronics and Information Technology Sector". The further detailed information requested is not available, although the above review contains a reference to entrepot trade.
Mountain Rescue Teams
Mr. Beith : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to clarify and safeguard the position of volunteer mountain rescue teams under the European Community draft directive on the liability of suppliers of services ; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. Leigh : The present draft of the services liability directive excludes public safety services, and we are seeking to have this exemption extended to private sector safety services run on a voluntary basis.
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Post Office
Mr. Batiste : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to remove the statutory exemption from liability for negligence from the Post Office.
Mr. Leigh : We have no present plans to do so. However, as we said in the citizens charter, we have asked the Post Office to carry out an urgent review of its redress schemes with POUNC, the statutory body representing the interests of all Post Office users. The review is looking at the scope of current compensation arrangements as well as at the levels of compensation offered.
As also set out in the charter, it is our intention that in future the Secretary of State will have powers to approve the arrangements for redress where service fails to meet the reasonable expectations of the Post Office's customers.
Mr. Hain : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will specify those transactions which are permitted in Post Office Counters Crown offices but not in privately owned sub-post offices or franchised outlets.
Mr. Leigh : The range of business transacted at Crown post offices and sub-post office agencies is an operational matter determined in negotiations between Post Office Counters Ltd. and each individual client.
I understand that, with the exception of those located at international airports, sub-post office agencies do not issue British visitors passports ; and that the issue of motor vehicle licences is carried out by 2,825 offices, both Crown and agency, at the request of DVLA. Other transactions available in Crown offices and some but not all agency offices are acceptance of datapost and the re-setting of franking machines. There is no change in the range of transactions carried out by Crown offices which have been converted to sub-post offices.
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