Oral QuestionDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade

“If he will take steps to help ensure Post Office provision in every community.”

Tabled: 15 September 2026Answered: 15 October 2026

Asked by

Rachael Maskell

Labour (Co-op) — York Central

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade

Answer from Hansard

The Minister for the Future of Work (Kate Dearden)

The Government recognise the vital role that post offices play in communities across the UK. We have committed to maintaining the 11,500 national minimum branch requirement, and the Government’s set access criteria, including the requirement that for 90% of the population, their nearest post office should be within one mile of where they live. We are backing this with up to £180 million in network subsidy funding over the next three years to support the cost of meeting those policy requirements, protecting access to crucial services.