| Subject |
MP defends local Post Office services
|
| Ref |
PR/06-167 |
| Date |
Thursday 14th December
2006 |
Tobias Ellwood will visit Royal Mail's delivery office in Wellington
Road, Bournemouth tomorrow to offer his support to local Subpostmasters
a day after the Government announced thousands of the nation's post
offices would close.
The Government today announced that it would be axing another 2,500
post offices across the country. Around 4,000 post offices have
closed already under this Government. Taken with today's statement,
that means that in ten years of Labour Government, over one third
of the post office network will be lost. More cuts are expected
as a result of Labour's plans to abolish the post office card account
from 2010.
Tobias said:
"Two Post Offices are closed every working day under Labour.
This has deprived thousands of people vital services. Once again
Labour is ignoring the concerns of the forgotten majority of Britain,
many of who are the poorest and most vulnerable in our communities.
Thanks to Government failures post offices have been prevented
from introducing alternative services in order to attract new customers.
Public services, such as benefit payments, have been taken away
from post offices, forcing many to shut."
The Conservatives have announced a range of measures that would
safeguard the future of the post office. These include reviewing
the decision to abolish post office card accounts and rewriting
Subpostmasters' contracts to allow them to provide a greater range
of products and services. However these initiatives have been ignored.
In addition Conservatives are also considering a scheme whereby
trained staff in post offices would offer advice on matters such
as tax returns and pension entitlements. Post offices could provide
access to a wide range of information and services on behalf of
local and national Government and related bodies.
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