Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to the Government response to the Green Paper entitled Future of the Post Office, published on 7 July 2026, whether he will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Post Office network geographical access criteria to take account of (a) journey times by public transport and (b) the age profile of the local population.

The Green Paper Post Office consultation represented a once-in-a-decade opportunity to consider the Post Office's policy framework and future. The consultation covered a variety of network topics, including whether to retain the existing geographical Access Criteria, which are based on distance to the nearest Post Office branch. The majority of respondents supported keeping the current Criteria and the Government therefore confirmed that all six would remain in place. The Criteria provide clear, consistent safeguards for nationwide access. The Government also confirmed that the Post Office will continue to report annually on accessibility for specific user groups, including elderly people.