MPs Vote to save local Post Offices

4.25.55pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 19th Mar 2008

In the House of Commons today, North-east MPs Malcolm Bruce MP and Robert Smith MP continued to express support for the post office network in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire in the face of compulsory closures across the rural network.

As MPs debate the Government's proposals to close up to 2,500 branches across the country, the MPs expressed grave concern that a way of community life could be lost forever in many rural parts of their respective constituencies.

As the North-east waits for the announcement of the proposed closures in the area over the next few weeks, Mr Bruce, the MP for Gordon said:

"The Government doesn't seem to understand its own analysis. Having already closed 3000 post offices to secure the business, it then stripped away more services forcing away more business for post offices; this in turn has led to them seeking to reduce the network further.

"Ministers have trapped themselves in a vicious circle of decline and the public has no confidence in the Government's management strategy for the Post office network or any assurances that this will be the last of the closures."

"The Liberal Democrats are the only party to have a policy to save and reinvigorate the network by part-privatising Royal Mail in order to create vital investment for new products and services needed to make Post offices profitable."

Robert Smith, the MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine added:

"With a closure announcement on the north-east fast approaching, this is an eleventh hour call on the government to recognise the damage that will be done if post offices are lost, especially in rural areas.

"It is also vital that the Department of Work and Pensions recognise the importance of the Post Office in delivering pensions and benefits, and it must ensure that Post Office card accounts are continued. The Government must keep Post Offices open to support vulnerable customers".

ENDS