Tag: Post Office

The campaign to stop the Government’s planned closure of more than one third of urban post offices has taken a step forward.

John Barrett, campaign leader and Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, has met Trade and Industry Minister Stephen Timms to discuss plans to save the 3000 post offices under attack.

Mr Barrett’s petition, backed by 6000 constituents, focuses on the essential role urban post offices play for many vulnerable people.

The Post Office is preparing to offer customers mortgages in direct competition to banks and building societies.

David Mills, appointed in February to turn round the organisation’s fortunes, believes this is the key.

Under the scheme, the Post Office, which is losing (pounds) 163m a year, would offer a full range of financial services, including mortgages, through its 17,500 outlets.

Under the present disinvestment policy of the government there is no possibility of privatisation of (the Indian) postal department. The services of this department come under social responsibilities and not under commercial services. Private sector is attracted more where the work involved is of commercial nature.

Up to 600 jobs are set to be created in the Rugby area next year after Royal Mail bosses announced plans to build a pounds 40million mail distribution centre in Daventry.

The company yesterday announced proposals for a huge hub at DIRFT Logistics Park.

The centre, due to open next August, would employ 600 people, although hundreds of current employees are expected to transfer from the company’s existing sites in Wednesbury, Nottingham and Northampton.