BEIS Ministers and officials engage regularly with representatives of Post Office Limited on a range of strategic issues of mutual interest. While the Post Office is publicly owned, it is a commercial business operating in competitive markets. The Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office \u2013 to maintain a national network accessible to all and to do so more sustainably for the taxpayer \u2013 and allows the company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent business. Therefore, issues relating to the Post Office network, including Crown Post Offices and franchising agreements with WHSmith, are all operational matters for Post Office Limited.<\/p>
Most of the UK\u2019s Post Office network of over 11,500 branches (almost 98%) already operates successfully on a franchise or agency basis. Research by Citizens Advice (June 2017) found that franchised branches are delivering to the same, or better, standards.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rochester and Strood"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kelly Tolhurst"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-06T12:59:58.803Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Post Offices: Closures"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with Post Office Ltd on the closure of Crown Post Offices; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/360", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Coaker"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gedling"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Vernon Coaker"} ], "uin" : "258990"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1128918", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1128918/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
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"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rochester and Strood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kelly Tolhurst"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "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"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rochester and Strood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kelly Tolhurst"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-11T15:49:46.73Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Post Office: Finance"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "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"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gedling"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Vernon Coaker"}
], "uin" : "258991"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1128919", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1128919/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Draft Answer<\/strong><\/p> Between 2010 and 2018 the Government provided nearly £2 billion to maintain and invest in our national network. This led to the most stable Post Office network in a generation, with 93% of the population living within 1 mile and over 99% within three miles of their nearest branch.<\/p> <\/p> The funding was split into investment funding to support the modernisation of the network and the business and subsidy payment to sustain those branches that are not sustainable on a commercial basis. Government investment has also enabled the modernisation of over 7,500 branches, added more than 200,000 opening hours per week and established the Post Office as the largest network trading on Sunday.<\/p> <\/p> The current Funding Agreement between BEIS and Post Office Limited runs until the end of March 2021. The funding provided by Government over FY 2019/20 & 2020/21 is as per below:<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/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> 2019/20<\/p><\/td> 50<\/p><\/td> 42<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2020/21<\/p><\/td> 50<\/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"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rochester and Strood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kelly Tolhurst"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1128919/answer/previousversion/121126", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rochester and Strood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kelly Tolhurst"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-07T11:57:56.763Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Post Office: Finance"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what funding from the public purse will be provided to Post Office Ltd in the next three years; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/360", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Coaker"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gedling"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Vernon Coaker"}
], "uin" : "258992"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1128920", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1128920/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " BEIS Ministers and officials engage regularly with representatives of Post Office Limited on a range of strategic issues of mutual interest. While the Post Office is publicly owned, it is a commercial business operating in competitive markets. The Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office \u2013 to maintain a national network accessible to all and to do so more sustainably for the taxpayer \u2013 and allows the company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent business. Therefore, issues relating to the Post Office network, including Crown Post Offices and franchising agreements with WHSmith, are all operational matters for Post Office Limited.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rochester and Strood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kelly Tolhurst"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-10T08:50:41.293Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "WH Smith: Post Offices"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with Post Office Ltd on the agreement they reached with WHSmith\u2019s following the closure of Crown Post Offices; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/360", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Coaker"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gedling"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Vernon Coaker"}
], "uin" : "258993"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1128921", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1128921/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " BEIS Ministers and officials engage regularly with representatives of Post Office Limited on a range of strategic issues of mutual interest. While the Post Office is publicly owned, it is a commercial business operating in competitive markets. The Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office \u2013 to maintain a national network accessible to all and to do so more sustainably for the taxpayer \u2013 and allows the company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent business. Therefore, issues relating to the Post Office network, including Crown Post Offices and franchising agreements with WHSmith, are all operational matters for Post Office Limited.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rochester and Strood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kelly Tolhurst"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-10T08:50:47.183Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Post Offices"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with Post Office Ltd on the retention of the existing network; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/360", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Coaker"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gedling"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Vernon Coaker"}
], "uin" : "258994"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1123040", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1123040/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Our progress in delivering the Clean Growth Strategy is set out in detail in the Government Response to the Committee on Climate Change\u2019s Annual Progress Report to Parliament, which includes an assessment of progress against key actions and milestones.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p><\/td> Carbon Budget 1<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Carbon Budget 2<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Carbon Budget 3<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Carbon Budget 4<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Carbon Budget 5<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2008-12<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 2013-17<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 2018-22<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 2023-27<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 2028-32<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Budget Level<\/strong> (MtCO2e)<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 3,018<\/p><\/td> 2,782<\/p><\/td> 2,544<\/p><\/td> 1,950<\/p><\/td> 1,725<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Following the publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change\u2019s special report on the impact of global warming of 1.5°C in October 2018, the Government commissioned its independent experts, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), to provide their advice on the implications of the Paris Agreement for the UK\u2019s long-term emissions reduction targets, including on setting a net-zero target. The CCC\u2019s advice is due on 2 May and we will consider it carefully when it is received.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rochester and Strood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kelly Tolhurst"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-05-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-05-01T16:01:39.63Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-04-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Carbon Emissions"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what targets the Government has set for the UK to reduce carbon dioxide emissions; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/360", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Coaker"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gedling"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Vernon Coaker"}
], "uin" : "247583"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1123044", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1123044/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The UK continues to demonstrate the strong leadership needed to tackle climate change, both at home and abroad. As an issue of significant public and international importance my rt. hon. Friends the Secretary of State and the Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth regularly meet with their international counterparts to discuss a range of issues including climate change.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rochester and Strood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kelly Tolhurst"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-05-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-05-02T12:59:38.337Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-04-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Climate Change: International Cooperation"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he last met international counterparts to discuss climate change; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/360", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Coaker"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gedling"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Vernon Coaker"}
], "uin" : "247584"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1123045", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1123045/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The UK continues to demonstrate the strong leadership needed to tackle climate change, both at home and abroad. As an issue of significant public and international importance my rt. hon. Friends the Secretary of State and the Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth regularly meet with their international counterparts to discuss a range of issues including climate change.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rochester and Strood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kelly Tolhurst"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-05-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-05-03T11:04:54.54Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-04-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Climate Change: International Cooperation"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he next plans to meet international counterparts to discuss climate change; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/360", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Coaker"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gedling"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Vernon Coaker"}
], "uin" : "247585"}
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}
|