Business Consignia
PA NEWS 26th September 2001
BUSINESS CONSIGNIA
POST OFFICE WELCOMES POSTCOMM’S FIRST REPORT ON BRANCH NETWORK
:: PR Newswire, London, September 26. This press release is transmitted on behalf of Consignia.
The Post Office today welcomed the publication of the Postal Services Commission’s (Postcomm) first annual report on the Post Office branch network as an important analysis of the challenges it currently faces, and the dynamics of serving its customers nationwide.
Paul Rich, Group Managing Director Post Office Ltd, said: “The Post Office is glad to see that recognition has been given to the steps already taken to maintain the nationwide network of Post Office branches.
“Maintaining the status quo is not an option for us but we are committed to maintaining the balance between our commercial imperatives and the need to stay at the heart of every community.
“We are keen to continue this work and play our part in implementing the recommendations put forward in last year’s Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU) report. It is vital to our plans for the network that the proposed universal banking services are developed further, that the nature of supportive Government funding for the network is established and that we build subpostmasters’ confidence in the future.”
He added: “The Post Office is trusted and valued by its customers to handle their essential everyday tasks and deliver a wide range of products and services through its branches, over the internet and by telephone. We are determined to meet the considerable challenges we now face, as outlined in the PIU report. We will create a sustainable network for the future to make life even easier for our customers and provide a top class service to them.”
Notes to Editors:
:: The Post Office and the Post Office symbol are registered trade marks of Consignia plc.
:: Post Office Ltd will come into being from 1 October 2001 and will be a separate limited company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Consignia. It brings together existing business units which deal with the Post Office network, banking and government services into one unit to manage the Post Office network and brand.
:: The Post Office has some 18,000 branches nationwide and every week 28 million people visit a branch.
:: Nine out of 10 people live within one mile of a Post Office branch.
:: The Post Office offers 170 products and services, including personal and business banking, benefits payments, travel insurance, foreign currency and travellers’ cheques, bill payments, passport and driving licence applications, stakeholder pensions and a wide range of postal services.
UNS Contact: 020 7250 2468 (24 hour) ENDS/MW 261625 sep 01
