"Use Post Offices or Lose The Network" Bruce Tells Government

9.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 3rd Dec 2004

New research compiled by the Liberal Democrats reveals the shocking number of post offices closed in the last 5 years. Nearly 2,200 post offices have closed since 2000, a reduction of 12%. This has severely affected many people's access to vital Post Office services.

Regionally, London and the East Midlands have suffered the most, losing 20% and 14% of their post offices respectively. Only Scotland and Northern Ireland have lost less than 10%.

The research also uncovered the number of Post Offices lost in each Parliamentary Constituency since 1999. The eight biggest losers are:

Sheffield Attercliffe 23 Closures Ryedale 16 Closures

West Derbyshire 22 Closures Vale of York 15 Closures

C.Suffolk & N.Ispwich 19 Closures Daventry 14 Closures

South Norfolk 17 Closures Salisbury 14 Closures

Commenting on the figures Malcolm Bruce MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow DTI Secretary, said:

"The closure of the local post office has an immense effect on the surrounding community, especially on more vulnerable people like pensioners and disabled people who depend on its services.

"Government policies like Direct Payment of benefits have significantly undermined post offices as viable businesses. Many sub-postmasters have lost up to 40% of their income from this measure alone. The Government's solution has been to pour massive subsidies into the rural network to keep it afloat while introducing a programme of closures in urban areas.

"This is not the way to secure the future of the network. Post offices need to be able to offer new services and products that will attract people back into their local branch and replace the income Government policies have drained away.

"The message to the Government is: us post offices or lose the network."