GOVERNMENT BOWS TO OPPOSITION OVER POST OFFICE CARD ACCOUNT

3.33.00pm GMT Thu 13th Nov 2008

Local MP Andrew Stunell was today celebrating victory in his campaign to save the Post Office Card Account (POCA), after the government announced that it was to stay with the Post Office, lifting the threat of closure from up to a dozen Stockport sub-post offices.

Mr Stunell challenged Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell in Parliament earlier in the week to end months of speculation about the Card Account's future, and to keep it out of the hands of US-based Citibank. Now the government has said it will cancel the company's bid - a U-turn that could save as many as 3,000 Post Offices across the country from closure.

Commenting, Andrew said:

"This decision will be a huge relief to the eighteen thousand Post Office Card Account holders across Stockport, and it ensures that there won't be another mass closure of branches. Sadly it has come too late to save the ones that shut last month.

"I'm pleased that the government has finally listened to the Liberal Democrats, and to sub-postmasters and the public who have been fighting for commonsense. It is important that the future of the Post Office is now finally secured, to prevent any further closures down the line".

Speaking in Parliament this afternoon, Andrew pressed the Minister to agree to get all government departments to make services available through the Post Office in order to ensure its future viability, and to instruct organisations such as the DVLA to remind its customers that Tax Discs, for example, can be renewed through the Post Office - a vital source of its revenue.

"The Minister talked the talk today, and I'm very pleased about that," continued Andrew.

"Now we must make sure the Government walks the walk, and really does offer more financial services through the Post Office to ensure the long-term future of the network".

ENDS