Government shows disregard for the post office - Mulholland

8.25.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 4th Jul 2006

Liberal Democrat Member of Work and Pensions Select Committee Greg Mulholland MP forced the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions into an admission today that distress had been caused by the proposed abolition of the Post Office Card Accounts scheme in 2010.

Commenting Mr Mulholland said:

"The Government has pulled the rug away from Post Offices and their customers through this announcement. It is a disgrace and has left many people uncertain about how they will get payment in the future.

"John Hutton's admission shows just how badly this policy was misjudged.

"Post Offices are vital to local communities and many people depend upon them. It is vital that people without bank accounts, particularly the elderly, get what they are entitled to."

"The fact that the Secretary of State admitted that alternative provision could have been provided through the Post Office network begs the question why a solution to these problems was not found before this policy was announced.

"This decision shows complete disregard for the Post Office and for those who rely on it."