UK Government must consult on the future of rural and urban deprived post office services
To demonstrate the joined up thinking it wants from Government the 15 organisations of the Postwatch chaired Counters Advisory Group have written to John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister asking for his Cabinet Committee on post offices (Misc 33) to set out the timetable for decisions on the future of the UK’s post offices. There are so many government departments with an interest in the future of the UK’s post offices that it requires a cabinet committee to join up their thinking.
Millie Banerjee, Chair of Postwatch, in support of the request to Mr Prescott said: “The Members of the Counters Advisory Group share one goal: They want customers to continue to be able to access post office services.
“The Group has identified that unless changes are made, access for some customers in rural and deprived urban areas will be jeopardised by unplanned post office closures. Since my appointment last December I have been expecting the government to issue a consultation document setting out their views. Despite many requests we still have not received even a publication date.
“Postwatch and the other Members of the Counters Advisory Group know the current network of post offices is not sustainable. We are not arguing for all post offices to be retained. However, we all want access to services, whether through a post office, a mobile branch, a partnership with other public services or through some other innovative means. “
To help government decide on a sensible way forward the Counters Advisory Group has together produced a report with 27 recommendations which was sent to the Deputy Prime Minister, all other relevant Departments and Select Committees, the All Party Groups on sub post offices and small shops, the Financial Inclusion Task Force and the Social Exclusion Unit.
Notes to Editors
1. 26 million people use the UK’s post office network every week. Despite this huge footfall Post Office Limited made an operating loss last year of £111 million. The rural network is supported by the Social Network Payment from government of £150 million but this is due to end in March 2008.
2. The UK has around 14,400 post offices, of which 8000 are rural. In 2000 there were 18, 000 post offices.
3. The members of the Counters Advisory group are: Age Concern; Commission for Rural Communities; Federation of Small Businesses (FSB); Help the Aged; Local Government Association; Citizens Advice; National Association of Local Councils; National Consumer Council; National Federation of Women’s Institutes; Postcomm; Postwatch (Chair); Public Utilities Access Forum; Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB); Townswomen’s Guild; and the Village Retail Services Association.
4. The government departments with an interest in post office services includes; HM Treasury, DTI, DEFRA, Home Office, DWP, Department of Communities and Local Government, Department for Transport and those for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
5. The terms of reference for Misc 33 are: To consider issues relating to the future of the post office network.
6. For more information about Postwatch and for a copy of the Counters Advisory Group’s report with 27 recommendations visit www.postwatch.co.uk
More information
Contact Andy Frewin on 020 7259 1223 or 07900 263 004 or
Robert Forsyth on 07900 263 014
