Government Failing The Post Office - Davey

3.53.23pm GMT Tue 31st Oct 2006

Commenting on today's Trade and Industry Select Committee's report into the Post Office network, Liberal Democrat Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary, Edward Davey MP said: "This report highlights the lack of joined up government decision making that threatens to destroy our Post Office network.

"I share the Committee's concern that the network, with all the benefits it provides for communities, could be lost forever.

"It's increasingly clear that our post offices have been hit not by technology, but by deliberate acts of vandalism by Labour ministers.

"What should make people angry is that there was nothing inevitable about the past decline or the current threat to local post offices.

"It's not a question of subsidy - it's a question of giving subpostmasters the business freedoms and the basic investment they need."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. The Trade and Industry Select Committee report on the Royal Mail Group is available at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmtrdind/1556/1556i.pdf

2. In the summary of the report the Committee says "We are seriously concerned about the apparent lack of urgency in the remit given to the Cabinet sub-committee examining the future of the Post Office network[chaired by john Prescott]. Sub-Post Offices have already lost sources of income, and postmasters will be making decisions now on whether they can sustain their business. Decisions are needed by the Government now to plan the Post Office network for the future, taking into account postal services and the wider social functions provided by Post Offices in local communities. If the Government fails to act, the network and all the benefits it provides for communities could be lost forever."

3. On 18th October a petition signed by 4 million people in support of the Post Office Network was submitted to Downing Street by the National Federation of Sub Postmasters.