Post Offices - 1 in 4 remaining branches under threat
29 October 2008
The Green Party is urging the Government to award a key benefits contract to the Post Office to prevent further branch closures across the West Midlands. A Government decision on which company will operate the successor product to the Post Office card account from 2010 is expected within weeks. If the Post Office loses, a quarter of all branches in the West Midlands could be under threat.
The Greens argue that to take the Post Office card account (POCA) away from the Post Office would mean hundreds more branches facing the axe nationwide. The POCA is used by four million people nationally as a way of receiving benefits and pensions and earns the Post Office £200 million a year.
Felicity Norman, Green Party European Election candidate believes that allowing the Post Office to operate the successor to the Post Office Card Account is essential to the viability of the network. Recent closures have been because branches are not making enough money and the Post Office network is losing £500,000 a day.
Felicity said: "Every post office closure so far has ripped the heart out of each community falling victim. To award the benefits contract to the Post Office would allow post office branches across our area to continue to compete. It is often the most vulnerable people on society, such as the elderly and those without their own car who most need access to a local post office branch.
I urge the Government to prioritise the Post Office as an essential service for all in our community. Awarding the Post Office this £200 million contract is the best way to do this".
A Parliamentary early day motion signed by over 260 MPs is currently running in Parliament. The Green Party is urging all West Midlands MPs to sign this
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