Government subsidy ensures that branches serving our rural communities that need additional support receive it so that they can stay open.<\/p>
<\/p>
Government subsidy has been declining in recent years; this reflects the progress that the business has made. Post Office Limited returned to profit after 16 years of losses and has thereby reduced its reliance on the taxpayer.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government has provided the following funding to the Post Office over the last five years:<\/p>
<\/p>
Year<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Network Subsidy Payment (£ million)<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Investment funding<\/strong> (£ million)<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> <\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2014/15<\/p><\/td> 160<\/p><\/td> 170<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2015/16<\/p><\/td> 130<\/p><\/td> 150<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2016/17<\/p><\/td> 80<\/p><\/td> 140<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2017/18<\/p><\/td> 70<\/p><\/td> 70<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2018/19<\/p><\/td> 60<\/p><\/td> 168<\/p><\/td><\/tr> <\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> <\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst"}
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, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1128918/answer/previousversion/121125", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst"}
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, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Post Office: Finance"}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much funding from the public purse has been provided to Post Office Ltd in each of the last five years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/360", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Coaker"}
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, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Vernon Coaker"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1129066", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1129066/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) was set up in January 2018 to boost the UK\u2019s product safety regime and provide national leadership on product safety matters. OPSS currently has access to my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State\u2019s powers under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. The Government has laid in draft an Order to ensure that OPSS powers reflect those available to other enforcement authorities under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. We will consult on whether further powers are necessary in due course.<\/p> <\/p> OPSS has additional funding on product safety of around £12m this year and the Department will consider OPSS funding requirements for future years in preparation for the next spending review.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Consumer Goods: Safety"}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Office for Product Safety and Standards has the (a) powers and (b) resources necessary to issue guidance and protect consumers effectively.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4510", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Helen Hayes"}
}
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, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Helen Hayes"}
], "uin" : "259354"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1129067", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1129067/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Local Authorities are independent from central government and are responsible for their own finances and funding decisions, accountable to their local electorates.<\/p> Government identified the need for national leadership and co-ordination of the product safety system and established the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) in January 2018 to fulfil this role.<\/p> OPSS has built capability to lead on national product safety issues. This includes commissioning a strategic research programme; setting up arrangements to deal with national product safety incidents; and forming a trading standards co-ordination unit to support the work that Local Authorities carry out on product safety in their local areas.<\/p> As part of its support for Local Authority Trading Standards, OPSS has made available £600,000 this year to Local Authorities for product safety testing, trained over 700 trading standards staff from 211 Local Authorities and provided scientific and technical support to increase Trading Standards capability on product safety regulation.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst"}
}
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, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of reductions in funding on local authorities capacity to enforce product safety measures.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4510", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Helen Hayes"}
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, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Helen Hayes"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1129127", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1129127/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Employees in the UK have a variety of different leave entitlements which can help them balance work with other commitments or interests. These range from short term leave to cover emergencies, through annual leave, to a range of entitlements to parental leave and pay. The Government is also considering new employment rights for carers.<\/p> <\/p> In addition, the Government continues to support flexible working practices to help people manage their work other commitments. Employees with 26 weeks of continuous service have a right to request flexible working and we are considering a new duty on employers to be clear when advertising a job whether it is available on a flexible basis.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst"}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to encourage a better work-life balance in the UK.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/308", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1129152", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1129152/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government has no current plans to provide assistance to individuals in relation to the SR01 form fee for removing a home address from the public record. However, Companies House is keeping the fee under review.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Companies: Registration"}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 29 May 2019 to Question 256394, what assistance the Government will provide to individuals concerned about their public safety but unable to afford the Companies House SR01 form fee.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4673", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Platt"}
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, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leigh"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1129165", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1129165/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government is committed to supporting all entrepreneurs to start and grow a business, it is a key aspect of our ambitious Industrial Strategy. We want to make the UK the best place to start and grow a business, to create jobs and spread prosperity.<\/p> |