POSTIVE FEEDBACK AFTER POST OFFICE MEETING

12.00.00am GMT Wed 13th Nov 2002

Local MP, John Thurso, yesterday led a delegation of Lib Dem Scottish MPs to meet DTI Minister, Stephen Timms, MP, to impress upon him their serious concerns about the phased abolition of cash payments of pensions and benefits at Post Offices from next year.

Following the meeting, John Thurso said:

"For many communities the post office is not only a vital service provider but the heart of the community. Those running sub-post offices have told us how threatened they feel by the implications of the migration away from cash payments next April.

"The Minister took on board our concerns and gave a guarantee that people who want to receive benefits in cash at their post office will still be able to do so through the Post Office card account. Most importantly, he gave an assurance that the Government will not seek to push people towards bank accounts but will remain strictly neutral.

"The other issue we raised was the pending announcement of cash compensation to sub-post offices to help them through the transition period. It is vital that these funds are ringfenced for sub-post offices and not creamed off at Post Office HQ. The Minister clearly understood our concerns and agreed to take them into account prior to announcing the compensation package.

"The key message we put across was that sub-post offices are the heart of our communities, run by hard-working entrepreneurial people who need support and encouragement, not more barriers. It is government's job to give this: it is too important to be left to a semi-privatised monopoly."