SCHEDULE
Article 2
THE SUB-POST OFFICE START-UP CAPITAL SUBSIDY SCHEME
1. Interpretation
In this Scheme, “sub-post office” means a public post office from which services are provided on behalf of a universal service provider but does not include a public post office owned or occupied by a universal service provider.
2. Delegation
(1) The functions of the Secretary of State under this Scheme, other than those under the following sub-paragraph, shall be exercisable by the company.
(2) The company’s exercise of functions under this Scheme shall be subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State may notify to the company in writing from time to time.
(3) A sum which, pursuant to those conditions, becomes repayable by the company to the Secretary of State shall be recoverable as a debt.
(4) In this paragraph, “the company” means Post Office Counters Limited (a company registered in England and Wales with registration number 02154540) or any company which carries on, in succession to Post Office Counters Limited, the business carried on by that company as at the date on which this Scheme came into effect.
3. Applications for subsidy under the Scheme
An application for a payment of subsidy under this Scheme shall be made in such form as the Secretary of State may require.
4. Scope of the Scheme
(1) The Secretary of State may make a payment of subsidy under this Scheme in respect of the costs of establishing a sub-post office in a settlement if—
(i) (a)
(i) (a) a sub-post office in that settlement has closed within the 18 months preceding the making of the application for the payment; or
(ii) it appears to her that a sub-post office in that settlement is likely to close within six months of the making of the application for the payment;
(b)
(b) it appears to her that, but for the making of the payment, no replacement sub-post office will be established in that settlement;
(c)
(c) she is satisfied that there is a suitable person willing to act as sub-post master in respect of the proposed sub-post office; and
(d)
(d) the settlement has a population of fewer than 10,000 inhabitants.
(2) The Secretary of State may make a payment of subsidy under this Scheme in respect of the costs of securing the continued operation of a sub-post office in a settlement if—
(a)
(a) it appears to her that, but for the making of the payment, it is likely that the...