Government must rethink abolition of post office card account - Brooke

4.35.26pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 13th Oct 2006

Commenting on new figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats that almost 5 thousand people in Mid Dorset and North Poole use the post office card account to receive their pensions or benefits, local MP Annette Brooke said:

"It is astonishing that the Government seems intent on destroying a service which is of such great value to so many people in the local community and the country as a whole. The post office card account offers an accessible and affordable way for thousands of people in the area to receive their benefits, yet the Government is proposing to axe it.

"By abolishing the vital revenue from the post office card account, the Government is further undermining the long term viability of the post office network, meaning that even more than the 3500 post offices already closed by Labour will be put out of business."

Commenting further on an Age Concern Report published earlier this month Annette Brooke said:

"The Government must pay far greater heed to the effects the closure of post offices have on a community - nearly 8 out of 10 people feel that the closure of their local post office would present a loss of essential local services.

"This is yet another example of an over centralised Government entirely out of touch with local communities."

The Liberal Democrats will be bringing the Government to account on Monday, as they lead a debate on the post office network in the House of Commons. Annette Brooke will also be meeting local postmasters as part of a national campaigning day this coming Wednesday.