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30 Apr 2008 : Column 565W—continued
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (1) what estimate he has made of the likely cost of the outreach services to be provided as part of the post office closure programme in (a) the Cotswolds and (b) England. [201788]
(2) what assessment will be made of the adequacy of the outreach activities to be offered in each case where a post office is closed; and what steps will be taken in any circumstances where such services are considered to be inadequate. [201789]
Mr. McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what guidance has been given to shop owners who have agreed to stop providing post office services on the compensation package to which they are entitled. [201792]
Mr. McFadden: The terms on which compensation is payable to sub-postmasters whose offices are closed under Post Office Ltd.’s Network Change programme are those agreed between the company and the National Federation of SubPostmasters.
Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he expects an announcement on post office closures in south-west Devon to be made. [201995]
Mr. McFadden [holding answer 28 April 2008]: I understand that the public consultation for the Devon area plan proposals will start on 20 May and is expected to finish on 30 June 2008. Post Office Limited aims to announce final decisions three weeks after the end of the consultation period.
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (1) if he will instruct Post Office Ltd to provide Hampshire county council with a statement on the financial viability of specific post office branches scheduled for closure; [202675]
(2) what his policy is on county councils seeking to select post office branches for help to avoid closure; and if he will take steps to assist such councils in obtaining relevant financial information required for this purpose. [202676]
Mr. McFadden [Holding answer 29 April 2008]: The Government have asked Post Office Limited to engage positively with local authorities (or community groups) that wish to fund some continuing service provision where branches are scheduled for closure and where no alternative Outreach service is being provided. At the same time, the Government have made clear that Post Office Limited must ensure that any local funding arrangements do not undermine the sustainability of the wider Post Office network.
Post Offices: PayPoint Machines
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what representations he has received on the placement of PayPoint machines in the same premises as post offices; what discussions he has had with Post Office Ltd on the subject; and if he will make a statement. [201319]
Mr. McFadden: I have met and corresponded with the chief executive of PayPoint plc on this subject.
I meet regularly with Post Office Ltd to discuss a range of issues, including the services provided at Post Offices. However, the installation of a PayPoint terminal on the private side of a sub postmaster's business is a commercial matter for sub postmasters within the context of the terms of their contract with Post Office Ltd.
Recruitment: Internet
Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will make an assessment of whether the use of information on social networking sites by employers in their recruitment procedures is likely to result in discriminatory employment practices; and if he will bring forward proposals to prevent employers from making such use of such information. [198785]
Mr. Thomas: We would certainly encourage employers to treat all job applicants courteously, fairly and objectively in their recruitment procedures. People who make information about themselves public on websites do so of their own volition. If a job applicant believes an employer has made use of such information to discriminate against them on one of the protected grounds under discrimination law, it would be open to the applicant to take action.
Regional Development Agencies
Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which regional development agencies were represented at one or more political party conference in each year since 2000. [201514]
Mr. McFadden [holding answer 28 April 2008]: The following table shows RDAs’ representation at the three main political party conferences since 2000.
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