TREASURY COMMITTEE REPORT MUST LEAD TO POST OFFICE RETHINK - RENNIE

11.06.32am GMT Wed 22nd Nov 2006

A report entitled 'Banking the Unbanked', produced by the Treasury Select Committee recently has highlighted the problems that could be caused by Government plans to close hundreds of post offices all over Scotland. Up to two-thirds of post offices in Fife may have to shut up shop if the Government does not revise their plans. The Treasury Select Committee report evaluated the services offered by post offices.

Commenting on the report, Willie Rennie, MP for Dunfermline and West Fife said:

"This report acknowledges the link between Post Offices and the fight against financial exclusion.

"In particular, uptake of the Post Office Card Account is described as 'phenomenal', especially amongst pensioners. This is particularly impressive given the barriers the Government has placed in the way of those wishing to open this type of account.

"As well as being an extremely important method of accessing money, use of the Card Account helps to keep vital rural post offices afloat. I hope that the Government will take this important report into account when it announces its proposals for the future of the Post Office network in the next few weeks."