Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he is taking steps to support the re-opening of Basingstoke Post Office.

The Government is committed to strengthening the post office network, in consultation with postmasters, trade unions and customers. It provides critical services that are valued by communities across the whole of the UK.

Although there will be variations in the number of branches open at any one time, the Post Office works to restore service to the community when a branch closes. The time this can take will vary depending on the individual local circumstances in each case.

Regarding Basingstoke Post Office, we understand that the Post Office plans to reopen the branch on 11 August.