NEW ROUND OF POST OFFICE CLOSURES ON THE CARDS AS GOVERNMENT SCRAPS CARD ACCOUNT - STUNELL

5.55.00pm GMT Tue 4th Nov 2008

Up to a dozen more post offices could be forced to close in Stockport next year according to Hazel Grove MP Andrew Stunell.

His claim follows leaked news this week that the Government will scrap the Post Office Card Account (POCA).

The closures would come on top of the 11 already closed in Stockport this autumn, and with up to 3,000 Post Offices across the country at risk due to the Government's action, it is likely that number could rise further.

Now, Andrew Stunell has hit out at the government over their handling of the decision, and backed a Parliamentary motion calling for the government to ensure the future of the Post Office by encouraging all government departments to make their services available through Post Office branches.

Commenting, Andrew said:

"Plans to phase out the Post Office Card Account are bad news for customers and the community. At a time when trust in banks is at an all-time low it is perverse to force Post Office Card users, who have all made a conscious decision to stick with the account, out into the commercial world.

"The decision-making process on POCA has been a sham. New Labour have cynically under-cut the account, and like the Tories before them, have repeatedly undermined the Post Office Network.

"The most vulnerable people will be the ones who suffer the most. And as Post Offices are forced to provide less and less for fewer and fewer, it gives the Government an excuse to close even more in the future."

ENDS