Banking on the future of the Post Office network

Postcomm publishes its third annual report on the Post Office network
today.
In it, Postcomm says that significant progress has been made in
implementing the key recommendations of the Cabinet Office
Performance and Innovation Unit’s 2000 report into the network. The
last year has seen:
• Announcement of financial assistance for rural Post Offices
• The start of the urban reinvention programme and improvements
for remaining urban Post Offices
• Financial support for Post Offices in urban deprived areas
• The launch of expanded banking facilities at Post Office
branches.
Graham Corbett, chairman of Postcomm, said:
“Last year we called for action to be taken quickly to improve the
business prospects for subpostmasters and support the Post Office
network. Significant steps have now been taken by Post Office Ltd and
the government to secure the future of the network. The expansion of
banking facilities at Post Office branches is a key development, helpful
to customers and subpostmasters alike, and renews hope for the future
of the network.
“Although the government’s financial assistance package will help
support rural Post Offices through to 2006, the report shows that
branches with few customers and low incomes continue to have the
highest closure rate. Postcomm is advising the government separately
on options for a long term strategy for delivering rural Post Office
services”.
Notes for editors
Postcomm’s third report to Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Trade
and Industry, highlights key developments across the Post Office
network in 2002/03 – including the introduction of universal banking
services. The report also updates network statistics. The closure rate has
again fallen from its high in 2000, with rural closures showing a marked
decrease to 1.4%.
MORE
In line with Postcomm’s repeated emphasis on the need for ensuring
continued access to Post Office services, rather than maintaining a
specific number of Post Office branches, Postcomm supports Post
Office Ltd’s urban reinvention programme, aimed at reducing the
number of urban branches so as to produce a viable urban network.
In rural areas, viability continues to be a problem — 60% of rural Post
Offices which closed in 2002/03 had fewer than 70 customers a week.
The report, Banking on the Future, is published today on Postcomm’s
website, www.postcomm.gov.uk. Printed copies are available from
Postcomm at
6 Hercules Road, London SE1 7DB.
Postcomm – the Postal Services Commission – is an independent regulator. It
has been set up to further the interests of users of postal services. Postcomm’s
main tasks are to:
• Seek to ensure a universal postal service at an affordable uniform tariff
• Further the interests of users, wherever appropriate through competition
• License postal operators
• Control Royal Mail’s prices and quality of service
• Give advice to government on the future of the post office network.
Postcomm’s policies are steered by a board of seven commissioners, headed
by the chairman, Graham Corbett CBE.
More information
Chris Webb T 020 7593 2114 M 07779 635881 [email protected].
Joseph Bonner T 020 7593 2116 M 07773 329902
[email protected].
Jonathan Rooper T 020 7766 1210 Pager 07693 352732
[email protected]