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The Rt Hon Malcolm Bruce MPLiberal Democrat MP for Gordon |
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Bruce welcomes long-awaited decision on Post Office contract
November 13, 2008 8:00 PM
Commenting on the Government's decision to cancel the procurement process on the new Post Office Card Account and give a new contract to the Post Office, Gordon MP Malcolm Bruce welcomed the delayed and called it a victory for grassroots campaigning.
Mr Bruce, said:
"I very much welcome this long-awaited decision which will help secure the immediate future of rural post offices, many of which would surely have been forced to close if this line of business had also been stripped away.
"The Government has been forced into what is essentially a U-turn by cancelling the current process and awarding a new contract. This late decision is surely down to hard work by local campaigners including from Gordon's sub-postmasters as hundreds of 'Save the POCA' postcards poured in from individuals all over Gordon especially in Ellon, Tarves, Inverurie and Insch. I thank them for their support and diligence.
"After the removal of television licenses and DVLA services I hope this signals the start of a reappraisal by the Government and they will now look to what other support and services can be channelled through the post office network which so often serves as a lifeline for rural communities."
Commenting on the Secretary of State, James Purnell's response to Mr Bruce in the House of Commons this afternoon, Mr Bruce added:
"The Secretary of State's claim that the Bank of Scotland and the Royal Bank of Scotland are offering services through the Post Office is based on the absolute minimum basic account and doesn't compare with other High Street banks that make other services available such as Clydesdale Bank."
ENDS
Transcript from the House of Commons:
Malcolm Bruce (Gordon) (LD): This is clearly the right decision, although I suspect that Lord Mandelson has cast a long shadow over it-assuming that he casts a shadow. Is it not time to end the attrition against the Post Office network and to start building it up with new services? May I suggest that the Government start by using their impending shareholding in the Royal Bank of Scotland to instruct that bank to use the Post Office network and to allow its customers to do so as well?
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