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HINT OF A POST OFFICE U-TURN OFFERS GLIMMER OF HOPE - ÖPIK
November 11, 2008 3:04 PM
Commenting on reports in the media that Lord Peter Mandelson, Business and Enterprise Secretary, is urging the Government to channel a range of Government financial products through the Post Office and even re-award the Post Office Card Account to Post Offices, Lembit Öpik, Liberal Democrat MP for Montgomeryshire, who joined the debate in the Commons on the Post Office Card Account yesterday evening, said:
"This is the first glimmer of hope for the Post Office we've had for years.
"The Government has been slowly undermining the Post Office by driving away more and more services.
"The Post Office Card Account is fundamental to making the Post Office viable. If it gets taken away, up to 6,000 Post Offices may have to close - more than half of the entire Post Office network.
"Finally, the Government is recognising the value of the Post Office network in covering the length and breadth of the country. There are few other companies that are as present in almost every community.
"There is clearly an almighty battle going on behind the scenes between the Department of Work and Pensions, who are keen to scrap the Post Office Card Account, and Peter Mandelson, who is looking to save it and channel more services through the Post Office.
"After years of uncertainty and depressing talk of the need for closures, this is the first hopeful sign but the fight to save the Post Office network is far from over."
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
The Guardian reported today that Peter Mandelson wrote a letter to the Prime Minister on 30th October, urging him to save the Post Office network by allowing it to provide government services and financial products.
The full debate can be found here: http://pubs1.tso.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm081110/debtext/81110-0013.htm#08111027000001
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