07/06/2010

NFSP says new £1m fund is “important step” to safeguard post offices

* Challenge Fund welcomed but more work is needed to secure network’s future

The National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP) today welcomed news of a £1m fund to help create a sustainable post office network in Scotland.

The NFSP said the Challenge Fund announced by the Scottish Government was “an important step” in safeguarding the viability of hundreds of struggling post offices across the country.

News that the Fund would be available to all subpostmasters across Scotland was welcome, said the NFSP, and should be the first in a series of initiatives aimed at supporting post offices. 

Of the 1,500 post offices in Scotland, the NFSP estimates that around a quarter remain at serious threat of closure due to falling income levels and increased running costs. 

George Thomson, General Secretary of the National Federation of SubPostmasters, said: “The Challenge Fund must be welcomed as a positive and important step towards offering crucial support to Scottish subpostmasters, many of whom are struggling to keep their post offices open for the benefit of their customers.

“The Fund also recognises that post offices play a vital role at the heart of rural and urban communities alike across Scotland.

“The NFSP has long led calls for post offices to be supported in recognition of the crucial social and economic service they provide - not only through financial support but also through more work for post offices from devolved and local government.

“We remain keen to work with the Scottish Government to develop new initiatives and we urge ministers, the parliament and councils across Scotland to think "Post Office first” when awarding new contracts and delivering new services.”

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For more information contact Matt Adams at Cobb PR on 01323 416999.

Notes to Editors:

• The Welsh Assembly Government launched a £4.5 million, three year Post Office Diversification Fund in January 2009. The fund is open to all post offices in Wales.

• This followed the Welsh Assembly Government’s earlier £3.8 million Post Office Development Fund which ran from 2003 to 2006 and was available to post offices in the most isolated and deprived areas in Wales.

• A £2 million fund was operated by Communities Scotland from 2003 to 2006 to develop post offices in deprived urban areas and contribute to the regeneration of those areas. 

25/05/2010

NFSP Response to Announcement of Postal Services Bill

George Thomson, General Secretary of the National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP), said in response to the announcement today of a Postal Services Bill:  

"The NFSP is calling on the new government to provide more information on its plans for the post office network. Any separation of Post Office Ltd from Royal Mail Group could prove to be a real cause of concern, as Royal Mail transactions currently account for a third of subpostmasters' pay and half of all visits to post offices. In addition, 900 post offices (mostly in rural areas) also house Royal Mail delivery staff, and would be unlikely to survive as stand-alone post offices without this function. We will be seeking clarification from ministers on these issues in the coming days." 

"The NFSP will work in the best interests of the country, the post office network and subpostmasters. Certainly, the current model is not working for subpostmasters, with ever greater numbers of our members finding it harder to survive and keep their post offices open for the benefit of their communities. Urgent action is required to safeguard existing income streams and develop new ones if we are to safeguard a national network of 12,000 post offices."

12/05/2010

Subpostmasters to call on new government to safeguard post offices at Annual Conference

* Conference to call for immediate government pledge on support for network
* Members will warn of 3,000 closures unless pay cut decision overturned 

Hundreds of subpostmasters will gather at their Annual Conference next week to call on the newly formed government to pledge its support for the post office network amid fears of further closures.

Members of the National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP) will demand an immediate commitment on establishing new work for post offices from both central and local government.  

The NFSP Conference in Torquay will convene just days after negotiations with Post Office Ltd (POL) on subpostmasters’ pay broke down.

The NFSP has vowed to vigorously fight a decision by POL to impose a pay cut on subpostmasters, claiming it is unfair for the company to penalise subpostmasters while simultaneously awarding at least £10 million in bonuses to senior managers and preparing to announce profits of £62 million.

NFSP General Secretary George Thomson will open the Conference by saying he is keen to work with newly appointed ministers to help safeguard the future of the post office network.

But he will also send a clear message that up to 3,000 subpostmasters may be forced to close their office unless they are supported with better pay from POL, and more work from central and local government.

Mr Thomson said: “It is a matter of grave concern that we begin our Annual Conference with the very real threat of mass post office closures due to a lack of new work for our members and now the unacceptable decision by POL to cut subpostmasters’ pay.

“I will be seeking to establish a positive relationship with this new coalition government to urgently generate the new products and services that are essential if the network is to survive. However we cannot ignore the challenges that lie ahead.

“I expect to hear a commitment from government that it acknowledges the vital importance of post offices to thousands of communities up and down the country, and that it plans to do all it can to sustain them.

“For the benefit of the nation, the new government must think ‘Post Office first’ when it is awarding new contracts and renewing existing ones.”

Subpostmasters from across the country will be travelling to the Conference, to be held on May 17, 18, and 19, where among those speaking will be the newly appointed Managing Director of Post Office Ltd, David Smith.

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For more information contact Matt Adams at Cobb PR on 01323 416999.

01/04/2010

New Post Office MD Must Have Full Government Backing to Stabilise Post Office Network – NFSP

The National Federation of SubPostmasters today called on the government to give its full backing to the new Managing Director of Post Office Ltd in his attempts to create a sustainable future for the post office network.

The NFSP said it looked forward to working with Dave Smith but warned that his ability to prevent further post office closures will be seriously hampered unless he has full government support to stabilise the network.

George Thomson, NFSP General Secretary, said: "The NFSP welcomes Dave Smith to this challenging role and we pledge to work with him to help secure the future of the network and the financial viability of our members’ post offices.

“The post office network needs urgent, bold and decisive action from whoever forms the next government, including making more central and local government services available at post offices; creating a state-backed Postbank at the Post Office to put trusted banking back into the heart of communities across the country; and ensuring full access to all high street current, business and basic bank accounts at all post offices.

“Action is essential if we are to avoid more post office closures and an irreversible decline in the network.”

29/03/2010

NFSP Statement on Government's Response to its Post Office Banking Consultation

George Thomson, General Secretary of the National Federation of SubPostmasters, said: "We welcome news of an extension to the vital annual social network payment and are pleased it has been increased to £180m a year.

"However, while the Government's proposals for financial services at the Post Office are a potential significant next step, we repeat our concern that more needs to be done to safeguard the future viability of the post office network.

"We do have concerns about the current joint venture model with the Bank of Ireland, under which half of all profits made on existing financial service products leave the Post Office.

"I would call on Government to re-examine this model to make sure there is sufficient support in place to deliver these new financial service proposals.

"The Federation believes that a British-backed Postbank model would allow all profits made by the Postbank to be retained by the Post Office, which is by far the best solution to sustain the future of the network."

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For more information contact Matt Adams at Cobb PR on 01323 416999.

04/02/2010

NFSP welcomes new £1m post office fund in fight to safeguard network

Subpostmasters in Scotland today welcomed the Government’s announcement of a £1 million fund to support post offices as a “first step” in securing the network’s future.

The National Federation of Subpostmasters (NFSP) said the initiative, announced by the Finance Secretary within the Government’s budget proposals, could help secure the viability of some Scottish post offices but called on the government to publish further details on how the scheme would operate.

Mervyn Jones, NFSP Executive Officer for Scotland, said: “The NFSP welcomes the Scottish Government’s commitment to the post office network, and we are pleased to see ministers have taken on board the strong cross-party support for creating this scheme voiced during Christine Grahame MSP’s motion in parliament last week.”

Mr Jones, who is also subpostmaster at Sandbed Post Office in Hawick, added: “We remain deeply concerned about the future of the post office network in Scotland, which provides a trusted and vital lifeline to communities, in rural and urban areas alike. Many post offices are struggling to remain open as a result of increasing costs and reduced work.

“The network still has a long way to go to be confident for the future. However yesterday’s announcement of a new Post Office Diversification Fund is potentially an important first step along the road to the Scottish Government increasing its support for post offices and the vital services they provide to the public and small businesses throughout the country.”

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For more information contact Matt Adams at Cobb PR on 01323 416999.

Notes to Editors:

• The Scottish Government’s announcement follows the launch by the Welsh Assembly Government of a £4.5million, three year Post Office Diversification Fund in January 2009. The fund is open to all post offices in Wales.

• This followed the Welsh Assembly Government’s earlier £3.8 million Post Office Development Fund which ran from 2003 to 2006 and was available to post offices in the most isolated and deprived areas in Wales.

• The NFSP held ‘The Post Office Debate’, hosted by Christine Grahame MSP, in the Scottish Parliament on 17 November 2009.  MSPs and subpostmasters from across Scotland debated the NFSP’s recommendations within its Six Steps to a Sustainable Post Office Network report, including a call for the provision of grant funding for post offices.

29/01/2010

NFSP Response to Adam Crozier's Resignation

National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP) General Secretary George Thomson said: “On behalf of the NFSP I would like to thank Adam for all the hard work and effort he has put in over the last seven years in turning around Royal Mail Group.

“We urge the government to make sure that his successor is committed to working for a sustainable future for the post office network; and to continue turning Royal Mail into a viable company, with the protection of the Universal Service at its heart.”

For more information, contact Matt Adams at Cobb PR on 01323 416999.

07/01/2010

NFSP Response to Alan Cook's Resignation

George Thomson, General Secretary of the National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP), said: "On behalf of the NFSP, I would like to sincerely thank Alan Cook for his hard work and commitment during his time as Post Office Ltd's Managing Director. He has made significant strides in taking the company forward and we wish him all the best for the future.

"We look forward to working with his successor, who we hope will be given the full support from the government needed to continue the job of turning the post office network around and ensuring it has a genuinely sustainable future, to provide vital services to communities across the country."

For more information, contact Matt Adams at Cobb PR on 01323 416999.

02/12/2009

NFSP Statement on Post Office Financial Services Consultation

The National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP) has welcomed today’s government announcement of a public consultation on increasing financial services available at the Post Office as a potential step in the right direction, but expressed concern at the government’s ‘timid approach’.

NFSP General Secretary George Thomson said: “The NFSP welcomes proposals to create a current account and a children’s savings account, and to extend business banking at the Post Office. But we are disappointed at the government’s unnecessarily timid approach in failing to ask the public for its views on creating a state-backed Postbank at the Post Office.

“This appears to be a missed opportunity to support the network at relatively small cost to the public purse in view of the post office network’s potential to offer a trusted banking service in the heart of communities across the country, its existing infrastructure and people’s enthusiasm for the Post Office.

“Instead of seizing this opportunity, ministers seem determined to retain the current arrangement with the Bank of Ireland, which is failing to deliver for subpostmasters and Post Office customers.

“The NFSP believes the government should bring National Savings & Investments back into the Post Office and transfer the banking licence from one of the nationalised banks, to create a fully-fledged Postbank at the Post Office.

“The news of the consultation’s limited scope, coupled with its timing – with results set to be published just weeks before the General Election - leaves us wondering why ministers have chosen to take such a timid approach to yet another opportunity to commit to the post office network.

“Talk of the government handing over parts of Northern Rock and the other nationalised banks to the likes of Tesco and Virgin, while threatening to leave post offices with the crumbs, will do nothing to restore the public’s trust in the banking sector, and nothing to return local banking facilities to the heart of communities.”

For more information, contact Matt Adams at Cobb PR on 01323 416999.

16/11/2009

Subpostmasters Call On MSPs To Take Action As New Figures Reveal Drop in Post Office Incomes

Hundreds of post offices across Scotland are still struggling to survive despite attempts to boost subpostmaster incomes, new figures warn. 

A major survey by The National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP) shows how services designed to boost post office incomes are failing to deliver, with many subpostmasters being forced to live on pensions and savings.

News of the findings comes as the NFSP prepares for a top-level debate on the future of the post office network in Edinburgh.

The ‘Post Office Debate’ on November 17 at the Scottish Parliament will be hosted by Christine Grahame MSP and chaired by journalist and broadcaster Keith Aitken, and will hear from a panel of speakers from Scotland’s four main political parties.

NFSP Executive Officers for Scotland Mervyn Jones and Andrew Gilhooly will also attend the meeting, together with subpostmasters from across Scotland and representatives from local authorities, business and consumer groups. 

The meeting will address how devolved and local government in Scotland can better work with local post offices for mutual benefit and help ensure that the post office network has a sustainable and vibrant future.

It will also highlight how the network must be enabled to provide local access to vital banking and more government, mail and retail services to individuals and small businesses in urban and rural areas alike.

The debate will hear how a survey carried out by the NFSP earlier this year found that 76% of Scottish subpostmasters said their Post Office income has reduced or remained the same over the previous 12 months.

The survey into more than 110 subpostmaster salaries across Scotland reveals how 28% of subpostmasters saw a decrease in pay from their Post Office while 48% said it has remained the same. Meanwhile, the survey also found that 55% of subpostmasters had seen an increase in staff costs, while 64% experienced an increase in other overheads.

The vast majority of those surveyed earned nothing from core Post Office products such as credit cards, home insurance and car insurance. The average monthly personal drawings from Post Office pay was £828 with 19% found to take no salary at all from their post office.

The NFSP is calling on the Scottish Government and local councils across the country to help prevent further post office closures by providing support and putting more services through the post office network.

Mervyn Jones said: “We hope that the outcome of our Post Office Debate on November 17 will be clear consensus among policy makers and opinion formers on options available for closer working between devolved and local government and the post office network in Scotland.

“The current situation is not sustainable. Our survey clearly shows that the network is not out of the woods despite recent closure programmes and the livelihoods of subpostmasters remain at risk.

Mr Jones, who is also subpostmaster at Sandbed Post Office in Hawick, continued: “Unless new sources of income are urgently found for subpostmasters we will be facing further post office closures, depriving local communities of post office services and much-needed local retail.

Income streams collapsing
The NFSP survey shows how many of subpostmasters’ traditional income streams are collapsing, including income from bill payment and payments from processing state pensions and benefits.

A number of new services heralded as income generators for the future, including Post Office Financial Services, telephony products and home shopping mail transactions, are producing minimal levels of income for subpostmasters, and in many cases nothing at all.

Local retail threatened
The survey also highlights a serious threat to local retail in small communities across the country.

In total, 80% of post offices are run alongside another business, usually a shop, yet 62% of those surveyed said the attached business would “probably not” or “definitely not” remain open if the post office closed.

And 43% of subpostmasters said both their post office and attached business were experiencing reduced business in the current economic downturn.

Andrew Gilhooly said: “The post office network can once again be a thriving resource for communities across the Scotland, but only if local and devolved government provide tangible new work for the public to access at the Post Office.

“Tuesday’s debate at the Scottish Parliament is therefore an important opportunity for us to highlight how councils and the Scottish Government can provide the crucial support needed.”

For more information contact Matt Adams at Cobb PR on 01323 416999.

Note to editors:

The media are invited to report on The Post Office Debate which will be held on Tuesday 17 November 2009 from 6.45pm to 8pm in Committee Room 3 at the Scottish Parliament. Drinks and canapés will be available from 6pm.

12/11/2009

NFSP Response to Public Accounts Committee Report on Network Change

In response to the publication today of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee’s report on the Post Office Network Change Programme, the National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP) General Secretary George Thomson said:  

“The aim of the Network Change programme was to create a sustainable post office network. But as the Committee’s report makes clear, this was dependent not only upon 2,500 closures but also on new services from central, devolved and local government being offered through post offices.

“The NFSP has been bitterly disappointed with ministers’ failure so far to champion the network and to make better use of its unrivalled levels of public trust and geographical reach as the natural home for many government services. Government departments and agencies and local authorities must think ‘Post Office first’ when awarding or renewing contracts for services.

“Recent research shows that post offices generate over £10 billion in ‘social benefit’ to the country as a whole. But unless the government takes urgent action to provide more services for the public and small businesses to access across our counters and to create a state-backed Postbank at the Post Office, not only will the Network Change Programme have failed, but it will signal the end of our much loved national network of post offices as we know it. Subpostmasters are struggling to keep their businesses open, and communities and businesses across the country will bear the brunt of future post office closures.”

For more information contact Matt Adams at Cobb PR on 01323 416999.

19/10/2009

NFSP brands “inadequate” government view on future of the Post Office a missed opportunity

Following the government’s response today to the House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Committee’s ‘Post Office – Securing Their Future’ report, the General Secretary of the National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP) George Thomson said:

“Subpostmasters across the country will be bitterly disappointed by the government’s inadequate response today to the Select Committee’s proposals, which represents a missed opportunity to revitalise our post office network. In setting out their reply to a report from a cross-party committee of MPs on how to safeguard the future of the network, ministers have failed to commit to measures which will help achieve this.”

“The reality on the ground is that many subpostmasters are struggling to survive and the post office network remains under severe strain, despite two nationwide closure programmes in seven years. Significant new volumes of work are necessary, in the form of more government services and a state-backed Postbank at the Post Office, to sustain a national network of 12,000 post offices.”

“Today’s response fails to build upon the Prime Minister’s announcement at last month’s Labour Conference on plans to expand Post Office banking services, with no routemap offered on how this could be brought about. The NFSP believes that a government-backed Postbank is urgently required, to help sustain post offices and to bring trusted, local banking back to the heart of our communities; and that this should be achieved by bringing National Savings and Investments (NS&I) back into Post Office Ltd and using the banking licence of one of the nationalised banks.”

“Similarly, on work from central, devolved and local government through post offices, the government’s response takes us no further forward by failing to announce any new services. The stark reality is that without the political will to make better use of the post office network and its unrivalled geographical reach and high levels of public trust as the natural home for more government and banking services, more post offices will be forced to close,
depriving communities and small businesses of a vital lifeline.”

For more information, contact Matt Adams at Cobb PR on 01323 416999.

29/09/2009

The NFSP welcomes Prime Minister Gordon Brown's commitment to developing banking services at the Post Office

The National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP) today welcomed Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s commitment to developing banking services at the Post Office, but said concrete plans must now be put in place to develop a full Postbank.

The NFSP leads the way in calling for the creation of a trusted British Postbank at the Post Office – both through bringing National Savings and Investments (NS&I) back into the Post Office with an enhanced portfolio of banking products, and the transfer of a banking licence from one of the recently nationalised banks to the Post Office.

Speaking after Mr Brown’s speech at the Labour Party Conference, NFSP General Secretary George Thomson said new powers must be given to Business Secretary Peter Mandelson to create the Postbank as soon as possible.

Mr Thomson said: “We welcome today’s comments by Prime Minister Gordon Brown that delivering banking services at the Post Office is crucial to the country’s economic recovery and that they should be available to local communities up and down the country.

“We say these services are also a vital step to creating a sustainable post office network for the future. Without this sustainability, many more offices may be forced to close.

“What we now need is bold and decisive action, not just words, to make the Postbank a reality. We need concrete proposals on how a Postbank will work, perhaps in line with the NFSP’s suggestions that the Government utilise the nationalised Northern Rock and its banking licence.

“We sincerely hope that today’s comments by Mr Brown are the beginning of a route map that will lead to the creation of a Postbank, but we need meat on the bones and the time to act is now.”

The call for a Postbank forms part of the NFSP’s Six Steps to a Sustainable Post Office Network, launched earlier this year.

It warns that the post office network’s future remains at risk and says the time has come to maximise the network’s huge and currently underused potential to deliver a wide range of products and services to communities and small businesses across the UK.

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For more information, contact Matt Adams at Cobb PR on 01323 416999.

Note to editors:

Six Steps to a Sustainable Post Office Network identifies a six-step action plan, detailed below:

Central government services – to increase the number of services available at the Post Office, to introduce a face to face service for all aspects of Government services, to give equal prominence to services at the Post Office, and to create a joined-up approach across Government departments.

Devolved and local government – to ensure local councils use the Post Office to deliver a wide range of local services, enabled by central co-ordinated support, to reject the unviable model of local authority ownership of local post offices, and for devolved government to provide rates relief and grant funding for post offices.

Banking and financial services – to urgently commit to the setting up of a Postbank at the Post Office (the report examines successful state-run postbanks in Europe), to increase the functionality of the Post Office card account (POCA), to allow full access to all UK high street bank accounts at the Post Office, and to create a comprehensive range of bill payment services.

Mail – to ensure Post Offices remain the hub for all social and business mail needs, to create opportunities for post offices to offer new mail services, and to protect 900 rural mailwork offices threatened by potential Royal Mail sorting and delivery office closures.

Network size and support – to ensure there are no more post office closures, to maintain the existing network through more work for subpostmasters, for Government to commit to renew its funding of the network and for central, devolved and local government to provide rates relief and grant funding.

11/09/2009

Public values Post Office services at £10bn – but government action required to safeguard network’s future

The NFSP has welcomed the publication of a new report which claims the social value of the post office network has been measured at up to £10 billion.

The survey, conducted for the postal services regulator Postcomm, measures households’ and small businesses’ willingness to pay for the post office network and the main services it provides, and concludes that the post office network ‘provides a major social net benefit to the UK population’.

NFSP General Secretary George Thomson said: “This report shows the enormous value which the public and small business place on our post offices. Post offices remain vital outlets for mail, bill payment, banking, retail and other essential services; while the value of post offices as focal points for local communities, and their role as professional and convenient sources of help, information and advice is also strongly acknowledged within the survey.

“However, while the public continues to place a high value on the network, it is increasingly difficult for many subpostmasters to make their post offices viable.”

A recent NFSP survey revealed how the withdrawal of many key services at post offices, coupled with the economic downturn, means that many post offices are now operating at a loss and struggling to survive. All levels of government in the UK – central, devolved and local – must now urgently address this issue by channeling more work through post offices. The NFSP is urging all government departments, devolved administrations and local authorities to always think ‘Post Office first’ when awarding or renewing contracts. Ministers must also create a Postbank, based on the post office network and backed by the UK government.

Mr Thomson said: “If these actions are taken, the national network of 12,000 post offices will have a vibrant future; if not, the network risks going into a further downward spiral of closures, depriving even more communities and small businesses across the UK of trusted, local access to vital services.”

08/09/2009

Subpostmasters call for vital support for post offices at special Assembly debate

Senior figures from the Northern Ireland Assembly and local government will discuss how to safeguard the future of Northern Ireland’s post offices next week at a special debate organised by the National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP).
 
Minister for Finance and Personnel Sammy Wilson MLA, together with Assembly representatives from the DUP, Sinn Féin, UUP, SDLP, Alliance and Greens will all take part in ‘The Post Office Debate’ at the Parliament Buildings, Stormont.

The meeting will address how local and devolved government, and other stakeholders in Northern Ireland, can support the post office network to ensure that it has a sustainable and vibrant future. Dozens of MLAs, councillors, subpostmasters and representatives from Post Office customer groups are due to attend to have their say on the network’s future.

Also addressing the meeting will be NFSP General Secretary George Thomson. The meeting will be chaired by Linda McAuley of BBC Radio Ulster’s ‘On Your Behalf’ programme. 

On the agenda will be the need for post offices to continue to provide local access to government, banking, mail and other vital services to individuals and small businesses across Northern Ireland; and for all levels of government to make full use of the post office network’s unrivalled geographical reach and high levels of public trust. 

The event comes as the Northern Ireland Executive prepares to put legislation before the Assembly on its proposals for a Small Business Rate Relief Scheme. The introduction of the scheme would bring Northern Ireland in line with the rest of the UK in providing vital rates relief for post offices and other small businesses. 

The debate takes place on Monday 14 September from 1.30am to 1pm in the Long Gallery at the Parliament Buildings, Stormont. 

Mr Thomson said: “Despite recent post office closures and the promise of new work, the post office network remains at risk. The network can once again be a thriving resource for communities across Northern Ireland and the whole of the UK, but only if local and devolved government provide tangible new work for the public to access at the Post Office.

“This debate is therefore an important opportunity for us to highlight how the Northern Ireland Assembly and councils across Northern Ireland can provide the crucial support needed.”
 
NFSP Executive Officer for Northern Ireland Stephen Harper said: “We know by talking to subpostmasters across Northern Ireland that while post offices remain an essential resource for the public and for small businesses, subpostmasters are still struggling to make ends meet.

Mr Harper, who is also the subpostmaster at Dungiven Post Office, continued: “The Northern Ireland Executive’s proposal to introduce small business rates relief for post offices is welcome, but it is vital that the Assembly and local authorities hear how post offices can be helped to survive through new locally-driven work and services. We welcome this event as a golden opportunity to work towards that goal.”

The Post Office Debate follows the launch of the NFSP’s Six Steps to a Sustainable Post Office Network report at the House of Commons earlier this year.

The debate will be part of a series of events across the UK’s nations and regions exploring with key stakeholders how local post offices can be sustained.
 
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For more information, contact Matt Adams at Cobb PR on 01323 416999 or 07958 506221.
 

The media is invited to attend ‘The Post Office Debate’ which will be held on Monday 14 September 2009, between 11.30am and 1pm (with refreshments available from 11am) in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings, Stormont.
 

Notes to editors:

The NFSP’s Six Steps to a Sustainable Post Office Network identifies a six-step action plan, detailed below:

• Central government services – to increase the number of services available at the Post Office, to introduce a face to face service for all aspects of Government services, to equally promote access to services at the Post Office, and to create a joined-up approach across Government departments.

• Devolved and local government – to ensure local governments use the Post Office to deliver a wide range of local services, to move away from local authority ownership of local post offices which the NFSP believes is not viable, and to call for devolved governments to provide rates relief and grant funding for post offices.
 
• Banking and financial services – to urgently commit to the setting up of a Postbank at the Post Office (the report examines successful state-run postbanks in Europe), to increase the functionality of the Post Office card account (POCA), to allow full access to all UK high street bank accounts at the Post Office, and to create a comprehensive range of bill payment services.

• Mail – to ensure Post Offices remain the hub for all social and business mail needs, to create opportunities for post offices to offer new mail services, and to protect 900 mailwork offices threatened by potential Royal Mail sorting and delivery office closures.
 
• Network size and support – to ensure there are no more post office closures, to maintain the existing network through more work for subpostmasters, for Government to commit to review its funding of the network and for central, devolved and local government to provide rates relief and grant aid.

• Local retail – to improve the viability of independent local retailers as post offices and their retail outlets are inter-dependent, to tackle the growth in crime against retail businesses and to change planning law to help support local high streets.