Bruce to take post office survey findings to DTI Minister

9.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 29th Nov 2006

Malcolm Bruce in a local post office

Gordon MP, Malcolm Bruce announced that he is to meet with the Post Offices minister Jim Fitzpatrick next week (Tuesday 5th) to present the results of a survey that the MP launched earlier this month with Nora Radcliffe MSP.

Mr Bruce has organised the meeting for a group of Scottish Liberal Democrat MPs ahead of the Parliamentary Statement on the future of the rural Post Office Network which is expected to be delivered by Alistair Darling to the House of Commons within the next few weeks.

Commenting Mr Bruce said:

"I have already received comments from Post Office masters and mistresses who are concerned about the viability of their businesses. They stress that the Post Office has traditionally provided a vital information service to their local communities but this is now more and more under threat.

"Many transactions in most offices are invaluable but low value. The Government has shown a lack of imagination in providing support for these."

"Businesses should not carry on for the sake of it but the Government cannot keep restricting services the public values and relies on. By removing the Post Office Card Account for instance, it would seem that this Government, which is obsessed with attempting to offer people 'choice' in every other regard, is now attempting to force people to go use computers or telephones to run their lives. I look forward to pursing the concerns of our rural post offices with the Post Offices Minister next week. "

Nora Radcliffe MSP added:

"The latest research by Postcomm makes depressing reading: over 80% of the 8,000 rural post offices around the country are loss making. If this is extended to Scotland, then the figures suggest that of the 1,143 rural post offices in Scotland, 929 are under threat. Clearly if this became a reality, it would have an enormous negative impact on the Aberdeenshire area."

"The Post Office network is a unique asset and one which should continue to be supported; we need to find more ways of doing that outwith Government subsidy so that the social and economic benefits to rural communities will remain. I look forward to seeing the results of our survey to see how those who know the service best think that rural post offices can remain viable and continue to provide an invaluable service to their local communities."

ENDS