Welcome to the NFSP

You are currently viewing: Home / Archived News

A helping hand for SubPostmasters... everywhere

Archived News

Read more about Subpostmaster 2007.

13/07/2007

NFSP Statement on Planned Strike Action at Crown Post Offices

The National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP) has issued a statement to clarify that its members are not involved in the strike action affecting Crown post offices, scheduled for Monday 16 and Thursday 19 July. The UK’s network of sub post offices – which make up 97% of the national post office network – will remain open for business as usual on both days.

Read the full statement here.

28/06/2007

NFSP Response to Changes in Government

The National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP) has welcomed today’s announcement by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the creation of a new Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which will include postal services within its remit, and the appointment of Rt Hon John Hutton MP as Secretary of State to the new Department.

NFSP General Secretary George Thomson said: “We look forward to working with John Hutton, his Ministerial team and other Cabinet Ministers in the coming months to continue the vital work of building a sustainable future for the national Post Office Network.

“We believe that the new Secretary of State must also use this opportunity to deliver a joined-up approach to the
network across Government. It is widely acknowledged that up to now we have seen the opposite of this, with one
government department supporting the network while others undermine it by removing work from the Post Office.

“We will call on John Hutton to act as a champion in Government for the Post Office; to ensure that those working across Government, the devolved administrations and local authorities think “Post Office First” and look to the network as the best means to deliver government services to communities across the UK.”

27/06/2007

NFSP Statement On Proposed Postal Strike

Below is the text of an NFSP Press Statement issued today in order to clarify any confusion regarding sub post offices and Friday's proposed strike action:

The National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP) wishes to make clear that its members are not involved in the strike action scheduled for Friday June 29 affecting other parts of the postal services sector. The UK’s network of sub post offices – which make up 97% of the national post office network – will remain open for business.

George Thomson, General Secretary of the NFSP, said: “The NFSP wants to see the Communication Workers Union and Royal Mail Management try to reach a settlement to this dispute as a matter of urgency, for the sake of Post Office and Royal Mail customers throughout the country.”

14/06/2007

Trade and Industry Committee

The House of Commons Trade & Industry Committee published its report at the weekend on the Government's plans to restructure the Post Office Network.

The all-party Committee of MPs issued an initial report in March on the Government's proposals for the network. Now, with the Government having finalised its plans for the network and having issued its response to the Committee's report, the Committee has issued a second report which seeks further clarification on a number of issues around which MPs remain concerned.

These include -

Government and Post Office Ltd must pay greater attention to the "urgent" need to improve the business prospects of those subpostmasters remaining in the network after the current period of restructuring. The Committee fears that without this issue being addressed, it is difficult to see how the profitability of the network can be improved in the future.
How the Government and Post Office Ltd will deal with unplanned post office closures in the future which may leave geographic gaps in the network.
Concern that the six week period for local consultation on post office closure plans is insufficient.

In response to the report, the Federation issued the following press statement:

"The NFSP agrees with the Committee that the current situation of increasing financial losses and unplanned closures of post offices has undermined the entire network. Whilst we bitterly regret the planned closure of up to 2,500 post offices we accept that it, alongside a review of the network, is a necessary first step in establishing a sustainable network for the future. Any extension to the six week public consultation period for closures, as proposed
by the Committee, would significantly add to the pain, confusion and uncertainty already facing subpostmasters.

We are delighted that the Post Office card account will have a successor. However, NFSP shares the Committee’s concerns that the Government has decided not to extend the functions of the Post Office card account to include cash deposits. It is essential to the future of the network that Post Office Ltd wins the contract for the new account, which is currently out to tender.

NFSP also wholeheartedly agrees with the Committee, that the role of the Government and Royal Mail Group cannot be to manage the decline of the network.

George Thomson, General Secretary of the National Federation of SubPostmasters said: “Government has a responsibility to think "post office first" in directing its own business into the network. Government should work with local authorities and devolved administrations to ensure that they too think "post office first", in terms of their own
services that could be conducted through the network.

“Government should also increase its efforts to encourage all major banks to offer access to all their accounts at post offices. Additionally it’s vital that Post Office Ltd and Royal Mail develop new products and services that
people will use and that bring much-needed income to sub post offices. Without these measures the post office network risks large scale unplanned closures, as subpostmasters struggle to stay open.”

NFSP believes Government investment in a network which touches the lives of 24 million people every week, including some of the most vulnerable people in society, is a good use of taxpayers’ money. We support this continued investment which is absolutely crucial in sustaining the network into the future."

Click here to download the full report. Click here to view the NFSP's original written evidence submitted to the committee's enquiry.

25/05/2007

Statement to the Scottish Parliament on the Future of the Post Office Network

The new Scottish Executive's Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney MSP made a statement to the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday on the future of the post office network in Scotland. This follows the statement made by Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling MP to Parliament on the UK Government's decision on the future of the network, announced on 17 May.

The Cabinet Secretary's statement set out the potential implications for Scotland of the UK Government decision, and highlighted the high level of interest in Post Office issues within Scotland demonstrated by the high response rate from Scotland to the UK Government's consultation document.

The Cabinet Secretary made clear his intention to review ways in which public services, including the provision of Post Office services, could be joined-up at a local level; and the possibility of post offices being used as integrated providers of local services and information.

MSPs from all parties went on to debate the statement, raising issues including the impact of the Government's proposals on remote and island communities; concerns about public trust in Post Office outreach services, such as mobile post offices, which are due to increase in number; the impact of post office closures on other local businesses; and the future of the Scottish Crown post offices.

Click here to read the Cabinet Secretary's statement and the subsequent parliamentary debate in full.

Last week saw the Trade and Industry Secretary's statement on the future of the network in the UK followed on 18 May by a Westminster Hall debate tabled by Simon Hughes MP (Lib Dem, North Southwark & Bermondsey) on the future of Crown post offices in London.

18/05/2007

Government Announces Tender For POCA Successor

The Department for Work and Pensions yesterday started the tender process for a successor to the Post Office card account, following the statement from Alistair Darling on the future of the network.

In a Written Statement to the House of Commons yesterday, DWP Minister James Plaskitt MP set out the initial details of requirements of the new product which the Government intends will replace the current card account from 2010. These include the requirement that customers should be able to access their cash at ATMs.

Under EU procurement rules, it is necessary for the new contract to go out to tender.

The NFSP will continue to work with Post Office Ltd, the Government and other parties to ensure that the Post Office stands the best possible chance to win the contract.

Click here to read the DWP statement.

17/05/2007

Government Statement On Future Of Post Office Network

The National Federation of SubPostmasters today states that the time has come to focus on the future by building a viable and sustainable post office network.

Following months of uncertainty faced by subpostmasters and post office users, the NFSP welcomes today’s statement from the Government on its proposals for the network, announced by Alistair Darling, as a first step in achieving this vision.

Confirmation of plans to press ahead with a successor to the Post Office card account and to extend the Social Network Payment to 2011 signify a victory for the NFSP’s campaign, which culminated in an unprecedented petition of four million names being handed to 10 Downing Street during a lobby of Parliament last October.

However, the NFSP is disappointed that the Government has so far failed to take note of our concerns of the need for more investment in the sub post office network, and of the need for the network to be better used by Government to deliver key services and by Post Office Ltd to deliver a full range of banking and other products.

The NFSP bitterly regrets the planned closure of up to 2,500 post offices but accepts that the move, backed up by funds to compensate those forced to shut, is a necessary first step in establishing a sustainable post office network for the future in view of the level of decline in Government business in recent years.

Colin Baker, General Secretary of The National Federation of SubPostmasters, said: “Today’s announcement must be seen as an opportunity to take the first vital steps towards building a post office network that has a future, one that is viable and sustainable. It is time to look forward, not back.

“Everyone tells us that when a post office closes, the heart of the community dies. Our goal is of a network, both rural and urban, that will thrive and attract new investment, both from current subpostmasters and those considering joining the network; a goal of sustainable communities anchored by sustainable post offices. Crucial to this was establishing a recovery package with the Government, the basis of which has finally been reached today.

“Plans to introduce a successor to the Post Office card account and to extend the payment made for the social and economic service provided by the network are both crucial to the recovery package and represent a victory for the subpostmasters and their customers.

“The Government should not be reluctant or embarrassed to invest in the sub post offices. We believe that support for a network which touches the lives of 24 million people every week, including some of the most vulnerable people in society, is a good use of taxpayers’ money.

“In the meantime, we shall be keeping up the pressure on Government to stay true to its commitments and to deliver the investment and new products and services required to make sure that the new network is given the best possible chance to survive and thrive in the future.”

Click here to view the statement to Parliament.

16/05/2007

NFSP Annual Conference 2007

Subpostmasters from across the UK are making final preparations for next week's NFSP Annual Conference. The focal point of the year for subpostmasters and the Federation will take place at Hinckley Island in Leicestershire between Monday 21 and Wednesday 23 May. It comes at a critical time for the UK's post offices, with a long-awaited decision now expected imminently from the Government on future products, services and funding for the network.

Delegates are to be addressed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP, who will set out details of the Government's plans, which are expected to be announced to Parliament this week.

Post Office Ltd's Marketing Director Gary Hockey-Morley is also to address Conference, and the three days will offer delegates the opportunity to debate a full range of issues affecting the network and subpostmasters' businesses.

There will also be a larger than ever number of exhibitors, offering delegates an opportunity to discuss a wide range of products.

Conference will also mark the end of an era as General Secretary Colin Baker stands down after 16 years in position. George Thomson, currently NFSP Executive Officer for Scotland, will take up the position immediately after Conference.

Members should contact their Branch Secretary for further information on Conference. Click here to view the NFSP press release on Conference.

11/05/2007

Government Decision on Network Future Imminent

We anticipate the Government will announce its decision on plans for the future of the post office network, between now and the start of NFSP's annual conference on 21 May. This follows an extensive consultation period in which the Government received 2,500 written responses.

The Government is expected to announce the continuation of the £150m a year to support the ‘social’ post office network. 2,500 post office closures and 500 new ‘outreach’ outlets are likely to be declared.

We are also anticipating a decision to introduce a replacement for the Post Office card account with increased functionality from 2010 - the contract for which it is essential that Post Office Ltd wins.

News about further business opportunities for the network as well as increased roles for local authorities and devolved administrations is also expected.

NFSP believes that government funding, additional Post Office products and services, as well as more local and central government work, is critical for ensuring a viable and sustainable post office network for the future.

Click here to read NFSP's submission to Government.

25/04/2007

Westminster Hall Debate On Future Of Rural Post Office Network

The future of the post office network was again raised in Parliament yesterday. Danny Alexander MP (Lib Dem, Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey) tabled a debate on the future of the rural network in Westminster Hall, the House of Commons' "second chamber".

MPs from across the UK raised concerns regarding the postponement from March to May of the Government's decision on future plans for the network. The Minister for Post Offices, Jim Fitzpatrick MP, repeated the Government's position that the delay had occurred in order to allow it time to fully consider the 2,500 responses received to the public consultation on the future of the network: "what has happened is a straightforward case of volume."

In response to MPs' concerns about the uncertainty suffered by subpostmasters and their customers due to the delay, the Minister highlighted details of the schedule for any closure programme: "We had hoped to make an announcement in March and we wanted to make an announcement then, although it would not have killed the uncertainty: it would have been our announcement of the access criteria and comments made on them, but would not have listed the offices that needed to be restructured. That will be done by Post Office Ltd six or eight weeks after we make the announcement, whenever that happens, in March or May."

Many MPs offered suggestions of other services which could be offered through the network and criticised the Government for the removal of government services, particularly TV licences, from post offices. Others praised the decision to develop a successor to the Post Office card account with increased functionality after 2010, but expressed the view that is was essential that Post Office Ltd won the contract when it is put out to tender.

MPs also raised concerns about the impact of post office closures on local communities and local businesses, and on efforts to promote social and financial inclusion; and on the consequences of increased car useage as a result of customers having to travel further to access their nearest branch. Questions were posed by several Members about the access criteria proposed by the Government for the restructured network, with calls for Ministers to ensure that local transport links and physical boundaries such as lochs and mountains were factored into any plans.

Click here to view the debate in full.

16/04/2007

Communications Officer

The NFSP is seeking to recruit a Communications Officer.

Click to download the job description, person specification and terms and conditions for the post; as well as background information on the NFSP and our equality statement.

Applicants should submit a CV and covering letter detailing their skills and experience in relation to the job description and person specification. References will not be taken until after interview.

The closing date for applications is 10am on Tuesday 8 May 2007. Interviews will be held on Thursday 17
May 2007.

For further information call the NFSP on 01273 452324 or e-mail admin@nfsp.org.uk

23/03/2007

Government Delays Decision on Future of Network

The Government has announced that it will delay until May its decision on the future of the post office network. This follows more than 2,500 responses to the public consultation on the Governments proposals for the network.

Postal Services Minister Jim Fitzpatrick MP told the House of Commons yesterday that in order to fully consider all of the responses received, the decision - which had been expected within the next few weeks - would not now be made until after the elections to the Welsh Assembly, Scottish Parliament and Local Authorities on 3 May 2007.

Click here to read the Minister's statement.

07/03/2007

NFSP Response to DTI Consultation on Post Office Network

The National Federation of SubPostmasters has today published its written response to the Government's consultation on the post office network.

The consultation was launched following the proposals on the future of the network made to the House of Commons by Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling in December 2006.

The NFSP welcomes the proposals as an important first step in creating a viable and sustainable network for the future.

In particular, we are pleased to see the Government's recognition of the vital social and economic role played by post offices and of the need for Government to fund those parts of the network which cannot be commercially viable; and the extension to 2011 of the £150m per year Social Network Payment, funding from Government to Post Office Ltd to support such post offices. However, we have concerns whether the funding is adequate to achieve this purpose.

We also welcome the decision to introduce a replacement for the Post Office card account (POCA) with increased functionality from 2010, but stress the need to ensure that there is a seamless migration for current POCA users onto the new product; and the damage which will be caused to the network if Post Office Ltd fails to win the contract for the new card account.

However, the NFSP stresses that without additional investment in the sub post office network; further central, devolved and local government work delivered through the network; and greater clarity on the new products and services to be offered, we will not see the thriving network which subpostmasters and their customers are calling for.

For further information, click to download a copy of the full written response to the consultation; or to view the NFSP press release on its response.

06/03/2007

House Of Commons Trade and Industry Committee Report On Future Of Post Office Network

The National Federation of SubPostmasters has welcomed the publication today of the House of Commons Trade and Industry Committee report on the future of the post office network, citing its key findings as a valuable contribution to the current debate on the future of the network.

With the Government’s public consultation on its proposals for the future of the network due to close on Thursday 8 March, the NFSP is gratified to see many of its own concerns and recommendations echoed by the Committee.

NFSP General Secretary Colin Baker said: “The NFSP has welcomed the Government’s proposals as an important first step in achieving a viable network of post offices for the future. Like the Committee, we believe it is essential that this proposed restructuring results in a sustainable national network with no further closures necessary.
However we have made clear our belief that further work must be undertaken to ensure this is achieved, in particular on new Post Office products and services to be developed to safeguard the network’s viability.

“We applaud the Committee’s emphasis on the vital social and economic service which post offices offer to individuals
and small businesses in communities across the country, and its belief that this means that the network deserves to
be supported by the Government. The NFSP has welcomed the Government’s proposals to extend the Social Network Payment to 2011, to support the commercially unviable parts of the network. However, we support the Committee’s request for clarification on whether the proposed payments are to support both the rural and urban sections of the network, and share the Committee’s concern that the payment is not indexed linked, as both of these outcomes will mean a real terms reduction in the payment.

“Furthermore, we are concerned that this funding alone won’t achieve a revitalised network. We support the Committee’s call for appropriate remuneration for subpostmasters, without whose investment and commitment the network would not be able to function. Equally we believe that the Government also needs to provide further real investment for sub post offices if the network is to sustain and flourish in the future.”

“We are pleased to note that the Committee recommends that the Government should revisit the concept of post offices as a one-stop-shop for Government services. Similarly, we warmly welcome the Government’s decision to develop a successor to the Post Office card account in 2010 with increased functionality, but we share the Committee’s view that there must be a seamless migration for POCA users onto the new account, and have very real concerns about the implications for the post office network if Post Office Ltd is not awarded the contract for the new account.”

Click here to view the Federation's written response to the Committee's inquiry.

02/03/2007

NFSP Executive Council Elected

NFSP members have elected representatives to serve on the Federation's Executive Council between 2007 and 2010. Executive Officers are serving subpostmasters and have collective responsibility for the management of the organisation. Elections are triennial.

Click here to view nominations. Click here to view ballot results.

23/02/2007

Annual Review 2006

The National Federation of SubPostmasters has published its 2006 Annual Review. Click here to download a copy.

Copies of the review will be sent to members within the forthcoming March edition of The Subpostmaster. To request additional copies, please e-mail Federation Headquarters or call us on 01273 452324.

23/02/2007

European Commission Launches Investigation Into UK Government Funding Of Royal Mail

The European Commission has launched an in-depth investigation into the UK Government's funding of Royal Mail. The Commission will focus on three Government loans to the company totalling £1.8 billion, together with other funding designed to enable Royal Mail to offset its pensions deficit. The investigation will determine whether these financing arrangements were made on commercial terms and therefore meet EU "State Aid" rules, or whether they amount to an illegal subsidy.

The investigation follows complaints from Royal Mail's competitors, who claim that the state-owned company has enjoyed an unfair competitive advantage over them. The UK's postal market was opened to competition in Janaury 2006, ahead of most other EU Member States. In recent months, Royal Mail has lost a number of major clients to rival mails operators.

EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes states: "The postal sector is increasingly open to competition, and it is important to reassure competitors that the advantages of that opening are not neutralised by illegal state subsidies."

Royal Mail and the Department of Trade and Industry are both reported to be confident that the investigation will find that the funding arrangements are entirely legal.

Though Post Office Ltd forms part of Royal Mail Group, the Commission makes clear that its investigation does not concern UK Government payments to the post office network. The Commission approved the most recent increase in Government funding for the network, which saw the Social Network Payment (the £150 million annual payment to Post Office Ltd to maintain unprofitable parts of the rural network) extended from 2006 to 2008. Proposed further funding for the network, announced by the Government on 14 December 2006 as part of its proposals for the future of the network, will be subject to EU State Aid clearance. These proposals are currently open to public consultation.

Click here to view the announcement from the European Commission.

09/02/2007

NFSP Elects New General Secretary

NFSP's current General Secretary, Colin Baker, will retire in May 2007. Federation members have elected a new General Secretary, George Thomson. Mr Thomson will take up the post on 23 May.

Click here for the full election results.

08/02/2007

Secretary of State Quizzed on Govt Proposals

The House of Commons Trade and Industry Select Committee has cross-questioned Government ministers and officials on their plans for the post office network. Issues discussed include Government investment, post office closures, access criteria, the Post Office card account and withdrawal of Government business from the post office network.

NFSP has been asked to submit a formal response to this oral evidence session.

Click here to view the transcript of the discussion.

19/01/2007

Update On Government Post Office Consultation

The Government is currently consulting on the future of the post office network. Proposals include maintaining the Post Office card account beyond 2010 and developing a successor product; maintaining the £150m a year Social network payment which supports the service provided by rural post offices; the phased closure of around 2,500 post offices.

The public consultation on these proposals lasts until 8 March 2007, and NFSP will submit a full written response. Other organisations and individuals are also invited to respond. Click here for a copy of the consultation document.

We anticipate that consultations about closures of specific post offices are likely to begin in the summer. We expect individual subpostmasters will be consulted about whether they wish their post office to remain open. However, individual subpostmaster's requirements would not be the only deciding factor. But it is worth noting that currently no-one can say which post offices, if any, are to close.

If a post office closure programme does go ahead, NFSP will work to ensure compensation for any subpostmasters whose offices have to close.

19/01/2007

Government Responds to Trade and Industry Committee Report

The Government has published its response to the Trade and Industry Committee report on Royal Mail Group. In the response the Government reiterates the view that their recent proposals and package of support are intended to maintain a national post office network with national coverage.

The Government says it recognises the important social and economic role the network plays particularly in rural communities and deprived urban areas. It says the proposed £1.7bn financial package will invest in the long-term health of the network and put it in a better position to compete for specific contracts.

Click here to read the Government's response in full.

15/01/2007

Assistant General Secretary

The National Federation of SubPostmasters is seeking to recruit an Assistant General Secretary.

Click here for further information and details on how to apply. The closing date for applications is 2 February 2007, with interviews to be held on 13 February.

12/01/2007

Opposition Day Debate On Future Of Sub Post Office Network

In the week that parliament returned following the Christmas recess, the Conservatives used Wednesday's Opposition Day debate to table the following motion on the future of the sub post office network -

"That this House recognises the contribution that sub-post offices make in communities across the country; pays
tribute to sub-postmasters and postmistresses for the service they provide; believes that sub-post offices have a
key role to play in delivering new services in those communities for local councils, businesses and consumers;
condemns the Government’s short-sighted plan to close 2,500 sub-post offices; and urges the Government to allow
sub-post offices greater freedom to develop their businesses."

Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Duncan MP said that the debate was in response to the Government's announcement on 14 December 2006 on the future of the network, on which he suggested there remained several unanswered questions. The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP, defended the Government's proposals.

In almost three hours of debate, MPs from all parties and all corners of the country put forward their views and concerns on the future of the network. The future of the Post Office card account; ways in which national and local government could use the network as a channel for services; the new access criteria proposed by the Government; and concern over potential post office closures were among the many themes debated. Several MPs cited examples of subpostmasters in their constituencies, praising the contribution they make to their communities.

The motion was defeated by 310 votes to 241. Click here to read the full debate.

08/01/2007

December 2006 Payslips

NFSP Branch Secretaries have been sent further information obtained following a request to Post Office Ltd, which aims to enable subpostmasters to better understand their December 2006 payslips and to check they have received the correct remuneration.

This follows confusion after the inclusion in the December 2006 payslip of arrears payments following the implementation of the 2006 pay deal. Federation members should click here to read the document in full.

08/01/2007

Citizens Advice Post Office Survey

National charity Citizens Advice has launched an online survey on the Post Office. Its aim is to give the public an opportunity to have their say on the future of the network. Issues covered within the survey include which Post Office services people use and how their community would be affected if their local branch were to close.

Citizens Advice says that the results of the survey, which runs until the end of January 2007, will inform its response to the Government's consultation on the future of the network. Click here to take part in the survey. Click here to read the Citizens Advice press release announcing the launch of the survey.

22/12/2006

Merry Christmas

The National Federation of SubPostmasters wishes to thank all of those we have worked with over the course of a busy 2006.

Thanks in large part to the efforts over the year of subpostmasters, their customers, MPs and other elected members, and the many campaigning and interest groups we have worked alongside, the Government has published proposals intended to safeguard the future of the Post Office network.

We thank all of these groups, and the many individuals far too numerous to name, for all of their efforts on behalf of the nation's post offices and the unique and valuable services they provide to communities across the country.

In 2007, the Federation will continue to work with all of these groups to ensure that the national Post Office network has a viable and sutainable future.

We wish all our members and their customers a very merry Christmas and a happy and successful 2007.

14/12/2006

NFSP Response to Government Annoucement on Future of Post Office Network

Retention of Post Office card account and renewal of Social Network Payment “a victory for nation and for common sense”
NFSP to work closely with Government to ensure commitments are met
Deep regret over planned post office closures

The National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP) today said the Government’s proposed post office package provided a welcome first step to arrest the decline of the post office network.

But the Federation remained unconvinced that the package announced by Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling will in itself draw a line under difficulties faced by the Post Office and bring about the NFSP’s goal of a sustainable national network of post offices.

Following months of campaigning, the Federation hailed Government plans to maintain the Post Office card account (POCA) – used by 4.3 million people – beyond 2010 and to develop a successor product with increased functionality as a “victory for the nation and for common sense.”

This decision to allow customers to continue to claim their pensions and benefits at the Post Office follows an NFSP petition of four million names presented to 10 Downing Street in October during a major lobby of Parliament attended by thousands of subpostmasters and their customers. It signals a major reverse from original Government plans announced in January this year to end POCA by 2010 and to migrate customers from the card account to payment into bank accounts by that date.

The Government’s announcement today that it will also maintain the £150 million a year Social Network Payment – which supports the social and economic service provided to communities by thousands of valued rural post offices across the country – up to 2011 also represents a major achievement for the Federation’s campaign. However, the Federation expressed concern that the funding was not linked to RPI and would therefore lose value over time.

Plans for consultation on the phased closure of around 2,500 post offices were deeply regretted but are accepted by the NFSP as an unfortunately necessary part of establishing a sustainable post office network for the future, in view of the scale of withdrawal of Government business from the network in recent years and the consequent viability of some sub post offices as independent businesses.

Colin Baker, General Secretary of the NFSP spoke soon after today’s announcement.

He said: “We have campaigned very hard to protect post offices but we have always made it clear that the most important goal was to establish a post office network that is viable. Our goal is for a sustainable, thriving network, rural and urban alike, which delivers modern products and services for customers and can attract new investment, both from current subpostmasters and those considering joining the network.

“The package announced by the Government today goes some way to creating the conditions which can, over time, create a viable network. We warmly welcome the decision to retain the card account and the Social Network Payment as a victory for the nation and for common sense.”

“However, we need to see more details and to continue discussions with the Government and with Post Office Ltd to ensure new products and services are added to this package to deliver a truly viable and sustainable network for the future.”

“The NFSP welcomes the opportunity for public consultation on the future size and shape of the network. We bitterly regret the need to accept that some post offices will close and it is a sad indictment that a programme of closures is better than the slow death of the entire network. We are however reassured that we have won the recognition for the need for compensation for those subpostmasters forced to close their offices. We will work with Post Office Ltd and with the Government to ensure that the public aren’t left without access to Post Office services.”

“We hope that today’s proposals will allow us to draw a line under the uncertainty and difficulties experienced by the network this year. If post offices are given direction and support, the opportunity to continue to deliver Government services and to develop new products, we have the opportunity to create a truly sustainable network and to move forward towards a vibrant and viable future.”

“However, our campaign is not over. Post offices touch the lives of millions of people from all walks of life across the UK. We will therefore maintain the pressure on Government and on Royal Mail Group to deliver these commitments and to make sure that the network is given the best possible chance to succeed.”

The NFSP will hold a press conference at 3pm today in the John Tudor Room, Methodist Central Hall, Westminster. For press enquiries, call 01323 416999.

Click to view the statement to the House of Commons by Alistair Darling; the DTI consultation document; and the DTI press release.

12/12/2006

Press Speculation on the Future of the Network

In response to weekend press speculation on the future of the Post Office network, NFSP General Secretary Colin Baker has issued the following statement:

"We are expecting an announcement from the Government on the future of the Post Office this week. The press is full of speculation about the number of closures and appears to only want to talk about those closures.

"The NFSP is calling for a recovery package. We do not recognise any of the numbers in the newspapers, whether 7,000 or 10,000 closures. This is pure speculation and as such is very unhelpful. Any recovery programme must address the Post Office card account and the way people get their pensions and allowances, with further banking products, and clarity on Government support for the network - not only financial support, but support for products and services they want Post Offices to offer.

"We want a sustainable network of viable Post Offices, making them businesses that people will want to buy and sell. If in the process of getting that point, we have to look at the size and shape of the network, let’s do it - we don’t want to be here again in three years time talking about another round of closures. This is a recovery package, not a closure programme."

Today at the House of Commons, the All Party Parliamentary Group for Sub Post Offices convened a meeting of groups campaigning on the Post Office. The group agreed to co-ordinate future campaigning work on post office issues ahead of the Government's announcement on the future of the network expected later this week. Click here to view the press statement issued by the All Party Group following the meeting.

07/12/2006

UK and Scottish Parliaments In Further Post Office Debates

Parliamentary focus on the future of the Post Office network has continued to intensify, with debates and questions this week at Westminster and at Holyrood.

Demonstrating how big a political issue the network has become since the NFSP's rally and lobby of parliament on 18 October, post offices were raised at Prime Minister's Questions yesterday for the third time in seven weeks. John Barrett MP (Lib Dem, Edinburgh West) asked the Prime Minister about the Government's plans for the future of post offices, which saw Tony Blair defend the Government's record of investment in the network.

Debate also took place yesterday in the Scottish Parliament, with John Swinney MSP (SNP, North Tayside) tabling a motion on rural post offices in Scotland. This debate saw contributions from MSPs of all parties, and covered themes including the vital role of the Post Office for communities and for small businesses in rural Scotland; the future of the Post Office card account and of the Social Network Payment; and the removal of Government business through the Post Office by UK Government Departments and Agencies. Many highlighted the contributions of individual subpostmasters in their constituencies.

The previous day in the UK Parliament, Philip Hollobone MP (Con, Kettering) tabled a Westminster Hall debate on sub post offices in Northamptonshire. He set out the vital role played by post offices and the subpostmasters who run them in his constituency; and went on to highlight his concerns about the impact of the Government's decision to withdraw the Post Office card account and the uncertainty over the future of the Social Network Payment.

Click to read Prime Minister's Questions; and the debates in the Scottish Parliament and Westminster Hall.

04/12/2006

New Economics Foundation Report

The National Federation of SubPostmasters welcomes the New Economics Foundation (nef) report published today which examines the impact of changes to postal services in Manchester.

nef’s report, titled The Last Post, provides hard evidence of the significant knock-on impact of post office closures in urban areas. nef shows:

Each post office contributes £310,000 to the local economy each year, of which £120,000 is direct spending on local goods and services.
Following post office closures in Manchester, 60% of local businesses saw significant impacts to their business or the local area.

nef’s research highlights the danger that the loss of a post office can be the ‘tipping point’ triggering a downward cycle in urban areas leading to ghost communities with very few shops and services left. The report claims that post offices operate as anchors, attracting users to local shopping areas. In one case, nef found that a local post office closure resulted in 50% of local people buying their groceries elsewhere as a direct result of the post office
closure.

nef also finds 76% of people would be affected by the closure of their local post office and 53% of post office
users would find it difficult to travel to post offices further away.

NFSP believes this important new research confirms the absolutely critical role post offices play in safeguarding
local communities.

nef supports NFSP’s calls for the Government to undertake a thorough assessment of the social and economic role played by post offices in communities across the UK. Following this, Government needs to provide ongoing financial support to the non-commercial parts of the network for the social and economic service they provide.

Go to the Latest Press Releases page to view the full NFSP response. Click here to view the nef press release. Click here to view the full report.

01/12/2006

House of Commons Trade and Industry Questions

Post offices remain high on the political agenda as MPs called on the Government to take urgent action to secure the future of the network during Trade and Industry Questions in the House of Commons yesterday.

Members of Parliament from all political parties pressed the Minister with responsibility for the Post Office, Jim Fitzpatrick MP, on issues ranging from the future of the Social Network Payment to a successor product to the Post Office card account. Other issues raised included the need to support post offices in suburban areas and a call for post offices to be allowed to work with competitors to Royal Mail, with many MPs raising concerns and citing examples of the impact of Government policy on post offices in their constituencies.

Among his responses, the Minister stated: "We know that POCA must have a successor, and that Government assistance will be required to maintain a viable national network". He reiterated that the Government would publish its proposals on the future of the network before the Christmas parliamentary recess.

Click here to view the debate in full.

01/12/2006

Royal Mail Quarterly Quality of Service Targets

Royal Mail yesterday announced its best ever customer service performance. In the second quarter of 2006-07, 94.5% of First Class letters arrived the next working day after posting. This beats the 93% target agreed with the postal services regulator Postcomm and constitutes the best performance of any quarter on record.

Royal Mail reports that Second Class mail also achieved record results for the same three month period, beating its
target of 98.5% mail to arrive within three working days with a 99.1% performance.

Click here to view the Royal Mail anouncement.

20/11/2006

NFSP Response to Treasury Committee Report

The National Federation of SubPostmasters has welcomed the publication by the House of Commons Treasury Committee of its report "Banking The Unbanked: Banking Services, the Post Office Card Account and Financial Inclusion."

The report follows a lengthy inquiry by the Committee to which the NFSP submitted evidence. Among its recommendations to the Government, the Committee states that -

There will need to be a replacement to the Post Office card account (POCA) with greater functionality and that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) should work with Post Office Ltd to introduce this.
The Government is failing to maximise the potential of the post office network to promote financial inclusion.
The DWP and the Treasury should engage with banks to increase access to Post Office counter withdrawals for bank account holders.

Go to the Latest Press Releases page to read the NFSP response to the report. Click here to view the full report.

17/11/2006

2006 Best Post Office Awards

Members of the National Federation of SubPostmasters featured prominently among the winners at the 2006 Best Post Office Awards held yesterday in London.

The winners included the following NFSP members:

Best Town and City Winner - Hungerford Road Post Office, Crewe
Above and Beyond Winner - for people and branches which have gone the extra mile for their customers - Withycombe Raleigh Post Office, Exmouth
Charity Fundraising/Community Action Winner - for people and branches which have taken part in charity fundraising or community actions projects - Llangadog Post Office, Dyfed
Most Innovative Post Office Winner - Cnwch Coch Post Office, Aberystwyth
Overall Best Post Office 2006 Winner - Hungerford Road, Crewe

NFSP General Secretary Colin Baker said: "I would like to send my wholehearted congratulations to all those who took part in the Awards. I have attended a number of awards ceremonies and but have never before been to one where the genuine atmostphere of support which everyone had for one another has come across so strongly.

"I am of course delighted to see that the efforts of so many Federation members have been acknowledged by the judges.

"The highlight of the event for me came when the overall winner Alan Green was joined onstage to collect his award by his father, who was the subpostmaster before him. It brought home to me how this great industry of ours depends upon and is made up of wonderful individuals."

Full coverage of the event will be featured in the December edition of The Subpostmaster. Click here to read the Post Office Ltd press release on the Awards.

02/11/2006

Yesterday In Parliament

The Prime Minister has been called upon to clarify the future of the Social Network Payment after 2008. During yesterday's Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Robert Smith MP (Lib Dem, West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) asked Mr Blair whether he accepted the recommendation of this week's Trade and Industry Committee report that the Government should commit to extending funding for the network beyond 2008.

The Prime Minister accepted "that there is a role for public subsidy" in view of the social role provided by the network; and highlighted his meeting with the NFSP on 18 October, stating subpostmasters "are doing an excellent job, often in very difficult circumstances, and providing a tremendous local service." He went on to stress the need to ensure a viable long-term future for subpostmasters.

The Government currently pays Post Office Ltd £150 million a year to support the social service provided by the commerically unprofitable parts of the rural network and to trial alternative methods of postal services provision in rural areas. This is set to end in March 2008, with no funding in place thereafter.

Earlier in the day, the Deputy Prime Minister faced a number of questions on post offices from MPs of all parties. POCA, the need for a joined up approach between Government Departments and the progress of the Cabinet Committee he chairs on the post office network were among the subjects raised following the NFSP's rally and lobby of parliament on 18 October.

Click to read the Hansard transcripts of Prime Minister's Questions and Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister on the post office network.

30/10/2006

Trade and Industry Committee

The National Federation of SubPostmasters has today welcomed the publication of a report by the House of Commons Trade and Industry Committee. The “Royal Mail Group” report describes “the sense of betrayal” among subpostmasters following the Government’s announcement that it will end the Post Office card account by 2010, and highlights the lack of joined-up thinking within Government regarding the post office network. Its publication follows the Committee’s inquiry on key issues facing Post Office Ltd and Royal Mail. NFSP gave written and oral evidence to the Committee.

Among its conclusions, the report states that –

the Government did not make clear that the Post Office card account contract would not be renewed after 2010.
as the DWP’s pilots to migrate POCA customers did not include an alternative to the POCA, the trials were not carried out in a “methodologically sound way” and so the Committee rejects the pilots’ conclusions.
the “perceived financial benefit from DWP’s ending of the POCA is questionable.”
“We believe that it is vital that across the whole of Government there is a clear recognition of the role that Post Offices play in delivering Government objectives in the community.”

It goes onto recommend that the Government must now take decisions on the future of the network, including for the Government to urgently commit to a payment to support the non-commercial parts of the network post-2008, when the Social Network Payment comes to an end, in order to safeguard the community service provided:

“If the country wants a comprehensive network of Post Offices to continue, a more explicit funding mechanism must be put in place, together with product diversification and a replacement for the Post Office Card Account.”

Click here to view the report. Click here to read the NFSP’s written submission to the inquiry. Click here to view the NFSP press statement in response to the report.

19/10/2006

NFSP Rally and Lobby of Parliament

Yesterday saw thousands of subpostmasters and their customers gather in London to call on the Government to take action to safeguard the future of the post office network.

Four million petition signatures – the largest domestic petition ever delivered to a Prime Minister – were delivered to 10 Downing Street, urging the Government to take action to safeguard the network; while General Secretary Colin Baker and National President Sally Reeves attended meetings with the Prime Minister and Leaders of the main Opposition parties to discuss subpostmasters’ concerns.

Hundreds of MPs held meetings with subpostmasters and concerned members of the public, while the threat to post offices was raised during Prime Minister’s Questions. The challenges being faced by subpostmasters and the urgent need for the Government to reach a decision on the future of the network couldn’t have had a higher profile, running as the lead story in the media throughout the day.

Earlier on, the rally witnessed stirring speeches from Federation representatives and from the chair and secretary of the All Party Group for Sub Post Offices, Kate Hoey MP and Owen Paterson MP. The Post Office Minister Jim Fitzpatrick MP spoke for the Government, alongside Charles Hendry MP and Edward Davey MP for the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. Strong endorsements for the NFSP campaign were received from speakers from organisations including Women’s Institute, Help the Aged, RNIB, Age Concern, National Pensioners Convention, Townswomens Guild, Citizens Advice, National Consumer Council and the postal services watchdog Postwatch.

The NFSP wishes to thank all members and supporters of the network who attended the events yesterday and made it such a resounding success. We have delivered our message loud and clear – we now look to the Government to start providing us with some answers.

Click here to view some photos from the day.

18/10/2006

Subpostmasters To Lobby Parliament Today

Thousands of subpostmasters and their customers are today gathering in London to call on the Government to protect the post office network – backed by over four million petition signatures, to be presented to 10 Downing Street this afternoon.

Subpostmasters and their customers will gather at the Methodist Central Hall in Westminster at 10.30 for a rally, which will see speeches from the Post Office Minister Jim Fitzpatrick MP, shadow ministers and members of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Sub Post Offices. Supportive organisations will also address the rally to back the NFSP campaign, including the National Federation of Women’s Institutes, Help The Aged, RNIB, Postwatch, Citizens Advice, National Pensioners Convention, Townswomens Guild and Age Concern.

At 12.40, a delegation from the NFSP will meet with the Prime Minister to discuss the Federation’s concerns and demands. NFSP General Secretary Colin Baker will hand in the Federation’s petition of four million signatures to No 10 Downing Street at 2pm.

The lobby of Parliament will begin at 2.30pm, with subpostmasters meeting MPs throughout the afternoon at the House of Commons to raise their concerns about the future of the network and to deliver five key demands to the Government.

For press enquiries, please call Matt Adams on 07958 385860 or Hannah Foster on 07870 227912, or visit the “Latest Press Releases” page on this website.

16/10/2006

Four Million Petition Signatures As Rally Day Approches

The National Federation of Subpostmasters today announced that it will present four million signatures to 10 Downing Street on Wednesday as part of the NFSP rally and lobby of parliament.

The petition, to be presented at 2pm, calls on the Government to reverse its decision to withdraw the Post Office card account and to safegaurd the future of the network. Four million signatures is believed to be the biggest domestic petition ever presented to a Prime Minister.

The petition presentation forms part of a day of activity on Wednesday 18 October designed to urge the Government to clarify the future of the network. Thousands of subpostmasters and their customers are set to gather in London to lobby their MPs on their concerns over the future of the post office network throughout the afternoon. Earlier in the day, Federation members will attend a rally at Central Hall Westminster, with speakers from the Government and Opposition, and supportive campaigning groups including Age Concern and Women's Institute.

NFSP members attending the rally can view information on preparations and plans for the day in the "News to Branches" section of this website; alternatively, you can call Federation Headquarters, or your local Branch Secretary or Executive Officer for further information.

Click here to view the latest press release detailing the programme for Wednesday 18 October. Click here to download the background briefing on the five key demands which the NFSP is taking to the Government on Wednesday.

12/10/2006

Postcomm Annual Network Report

The postal services regulator Postcomm today publishes its annual report to the Government on the post office network.

The report calls on the Government "to make the tough and overdue decisions needed to plan the future of the post office network". Postcomm also stresses the wider social and economic role played by post offices in local communities, as well as the need for subpostmasters to be able to plan for "a sustainable, stable business."

NFSP General Secretary Colin Baker: “We welcome Postcomm’s clear message to the Government that a decision on the future of the post office network must now be made as a matter of urgency.

“This report underscores the seriousness of the threats facing subpostmasters and the network. It also serves as an
important backdrop to the NFSP’s rally and lobby of Parliament on 18 October, when thousands of subpostmasters and their customers will gather in Westminster to highlight their concerns about the future of the post office network and urge the Government to take action to safeguard its future.

“The 28 million customers who use the Post Office every week are confused as to what the Government wants of the network and of the people who run it – we believe that the time is now overdue for Ministers to decide.”

Click here to view the Postcomm report.

02/10/2006

Dame Vera Lynn Becomes Three Millionth Petition Signer

Dame Vera Lynn last week became the three millionth person to sign the Federation's national petition.

The Forces Sweetheart joins Post Office customers of all backgrounds in backing the Federation's call for the Government to reverse its decision to withdraw the Post Office card account and to take action to safeguard the future of the network. For more information, see the Press Releases page of this website.

The petition will be presented to 10 Downing Street on 18 October, when subpostmasters and their customers from across the UK will gather in London for a rally and mass lobby of Parliament to voice their concerns on the network's future. Further information on how you can participate on the day can be obtained from your Branch Secretary or by contacting Federation Headquarters.

The deadline has now passed for returning completed petition forms. Any remaining petition forms should be returned as soon as possible to Federation Headquarters at the below address in order to count towards the total to be presented to the Government.

NFSP, Evelyn House, 22 Windlesham Gardens, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, BN43 5AZ.

27/09/2006

Age Concern Rural PO Report

The National Federation of SubPostmasters welcomes a new report published today by Age Concern which warns of the need to protect the post office network.

Among the report's findings -

99% of older people in rural areas consider their local post office to be “a lifeline”.
56% of over-60s in the countryside fear that post office closures would leave them more isolated.
76% of older people are worried about losing essential services if their post office is forced to close.
73% feel that they wouldn’t be able to access similar services in their local area.

The report concludes that "urgent action is needed to develop a positive, coherent and sustainable rural strategy, including a continuation of the rural subsidy" and that the "Post Office card account should not be abolished unless there is a simple alternative that is equally or more acceptable to current holders."

The Age Concern report supports concerns expressed by the NFSP that thousands of pensioners risk being cut off from their local community unless the Government acts now to protect the post office network.

The NFSP is campaigning to safeguard the future of the network and is calling on Government to retain key services at all post offices, including the Post Office card account (POCA), used by more than four million people to access pensions and benefits. The Government is planning to withdraw POCA in 2010.

Thousands of subpostmasters are expected at an NFSP lobby of Parliament in Westminster on October 18.

Colin Baker, General Secretary of The National Federation of SubPostmasters, said: “We welcome Age Concern’s report, which supports our own findings about the importance of the entire post office network and our on-going call for joined-up action from the Government, the continuation of the rural subsidy and a clear statement on the future of the network.

“We will be making all these calls once again at our lobby of Parliament at Westminster on October 18, at which
thousands of subpostmasters are expected, and Age Concern’s report will be a useful tool to reiterate what an
incredibly important issue the future of both the rural and urban post network really is.”

Click here to view the Age Concern report.

25/09/2006

Deadline For National Petition

Members are reminded that the end of this week sees the deadline for the Federation's national petition. Please send any remaining completed forms by Friday 29 September to Federation Headquarters at the following address:

NFSP, Evelyn House, 22 Windlesham Gardens, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, BN43 5AZ.

The petition has enjoyed huge levels of support from subpostmasters and their customers, and the Federation thanks members for their hard work in promoting it.

The petition will be presented to 10 Downing Street on 18 October, when subpostmasters and their customers from across the UK will attend a rally at Westminster Central Hall followed by a mass lobby of parliament. All members are strongly urged to attend on the day to deliver a show of strength to the Government and to MPs of all parties, and to ensure that the concerns of subpostmasters and their customers are heard.

Further information on the plans for the day can be found under "News to Branches" on this website or can be obtained from your Branch Secretary. Any members yet to do so are encouraged to register with their Branch Secretary their intention to attend the events on 18 October.

25/09/2006

Postwatch Scotland - Rural Post Office Survey 2006

Postwatch Scotland has published the findings of its questionnaire on rural post offices.

Among the findings were that while 19% of those surveyed live more than 5km from their nearest post office, 79% would live more than 5km from a post office if the one they currently use closed. 62% of respondents visit their local post office twice a week or more, and 29% use the post office to obtain cash. Respondents also expressed a high degree of satisfaction with their local post office.

Click here to view the report. Further research is expected to be published in the coming weeks by Postwatch Scotland on the economic and social roles of post offices in remote rural areas.

19/09/2006

Online Postage

Following the launch today of Royal Mail's online postage service, NFSP General Secretary Colin Baker issued the following statement:

“Royal Mail needs to respond to the changing demands of its customers who want to access postage online. I feel sure it’s appeal will be limited and people will still need to go to the Post Office to post their mail and have it checked.

“It is essential that the network remains viable and there to provide the value-added services surrounding the receipt of mail, and we are in negotiations with Post Office Ltd to ensure our members can embrace this change so that it adds to Royal Mail’s portfolio of products and subpostmasters’ service to their customers.”

Click here to read Royal Mail's press release announcing the new service.

14/09/2006

Wales Small Business Rates Relief

The Welsh Assembly Government today issued proposals for a new small business rate relief scheme which would feature 100% relief for Wales' small post offices.

The proposals, which follow sustained lobbying by the Federation, will now go out for public consultation. They would see post offices with a rateable value under £9,000 receive 100% relief, and those with a rateable value between £9,000 and £11,999 receive 50% relief.

The NFSP welcomes the announcement as a sign of the Welsh Assembly Government's commitment to supporting the post office network in Wales and the contribution made by post offices to the sustainability of many local communities.

Click here to read the Federation's press release. Click here to view the announcement by the Assembly Government.

08/09/2006

Commission For Rural Communities Post Office Report

The Commission for Rural Communities - the Government watchdog and advisor - has published a new report on rural postal services.

The report concludes that post offices serve a vital role in supporting local economies and communities. Post offices' role in providing access to cash and banking services were seen as vital.

Click here to view the report.

23/08/2006

Lobby Of Parliament - 18 October 2006

NFSP has announced plans for a lobby of parliament on 18 October 2006. The event is part of the Federation's ongoing campaign calling on the Government to deliver a sustainable future for the post office network.

Federation representatives will deliver the national petition - expected to have signed by over three million people - to the Government on the morning of 18 October. Thousands of subpostmasters and their customers will then attend a rally at Westminster Central Hall, followed by a mass lobby of parliament at which members will have the opportunity to raise their concerns about the future of the network with their MPs.

NFSP Branch Secretaries have received details of those plans for the day so far confirmed, which they will issue to members. This information can also be viewed by members only within the "News / News to Branches" section of this website. Members will receive further information through their Branch Secretaries in the coming weeks.

Go to "News / Latest Press Releases" to view the Federation's press release on the lobby issued today.

23/08/2006

Mails Integrity Poster

Following the introduction of a new Mails Integrity code by the regulator Postcomm, the Federation has received a number of enquiries from members regarding responsibility for mail left on the public side of post office counters.

To assist with this we have produced a poster which members may wish to put up in their offices. This is intended to help members avoid any future difficulties created by missing or stolen mail.

The poster can be downloaded by members only from the "News to Branches" section of the website.

18/08/2006

Royal Mail Quarterly Quality Of Service Targets

Royal Mail today announced that it has again exceeded its quality of service targets for the first quarter of 2006-07.

From the end of March to early June this year, 94.1% of First Class letters were delivered the next working day after posting, against a national target of 93%. Similarly, Second Class mail beat its target of 98.5%, with a 99.1% performance figure posted during that period.

Click here to view the announcement in full.

11/08/2006

News From Scotland

A new report commissioned by the Scottish Executive confirms the important social role played by post offices in rural communities.

The study finds that not only do post offices provide access to post office services, but also promote financial inclusion by providing access to financial services in rural areas where there are few bank branches. The report, which takes an in depth look at three rural communities in Scotland, also found that local access to post offices is particularly useful for more vulnerable groups including older people, disabled people and those without their own transport.

The Post Office acts as the hub of the community, providing a place to meet and an informal communication network. In all three cases, subpostmasters and their staff play an important role in the community, their advice and support going beyond customer counter duties to wider community roles. Crucially, the post offices also support, and are supported by, other local shops and services.

Click here to download "Three Case Studies of the Role of the Post Office Within Rural Communities In Scotland."

Meanwhile, The Herald recently published a detailed feature on the future of the post office network in Scotland and across the UK.

The report, which features interviews with several subpostmasters from across Scotland and cites data from the recently published NFSP-Ipsos Mori report on subpostmaster income, highlights the central role of subpostmasters in serving Scotland's diverse communities. It also looks at the Government's failure so far to reach a decision on the future of the network and examines the potential impact of post office closures on rural communities and economies.

Click here to read the full Herald article.

02/08/2006

National Petition To End In September

The Federation's national petition on the Post Office card account, which has now attracted over two million signatures, will close at the end of September.

All completed petition forms should be returned by that date to Federation Headquarters:

NFSP, Evelyn House, 22 Windelsham Gardens, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, BN43 5AZ

Futher details of the next stage of the Federation's campaign will be presented to members in the near future.

21/07/2006

DWP Report on POCA Pilots

Department for Work and Pensions Minister James Plaskitt yesterday issued a Written Ministerial Statement in which he outlined the findings of the DWP's pilot programmes on the Post Office card account, which took place at the start of this year. The pilots saw the DWP transerring the payment of pensions and benefits from POCA directly into bank accounts.

Among the key findings from the report:

Pilot A - 3,000 new claimants were not offered the option to open a POCA, resulting in up to 95% chosing to have their benefits paid into an exisiting or new bank account, and 4.5% requesting a POCA.
Pilot B - the DWP wrote and made follow up phone calls to "around 25,000" POCA users asking them to supply bank account details. Only 8% did so, with over 37% refusing and a further 48% not responding. The DWP concludes that this "low positive response rate...confirmed that we will need to provide additional support to some customers who will require a fuller explanation of why they are being asked to change."
Pilot C - 1,500 POCA users who have one benefit paid into a card account and another into a bank account were written to and told that both their benefits would be paid into their bank acccount. 90% accepted the change, 10% contacted the DWP to say they still wanted one of their benefits paid into their card account.

The DWP later undertook some follow-up work with 350 people across the pilots, which the report states revealed that many customers were not aware that they could use their bank account at the Post Office, and that 85% were happy using a bank account rather than a POCA.

NFSP believes that the pilots, and therefore their findings, were flawed from the outset in failing to offer those customers selected a Post Office based alternative.

In view of this, we believe that what is remarkable about the data featured in the DWP report is not that so many people in Pilots A and C accepted the migration to bank accounts; but rather that with no Post Office based option offered to customers, so many still refused to have their payment transferred to a bank account and insisted on either maintaining their Post Office card account or opening a new POCA.

In addition, the report fails to take account of the significant coercion which many POCA customers experienced during the pilots which we believe will have undoubtedly informed the outcomes. This included incidents of pensioners being given three days notice in writing and less than 24 hours notice by phone of the intention to stop payments to their card account and transfer them to bank accounts. One letter we are aware of to a pensioner suggested she had a greater change of being mugged if she retained her Post Office card account. Many of these incidents have been raised in Parliament. The NFSP has raised those incidents which have been brought to its attention with the Secretary of State.

We note that in Pilot B, where the trial was dependent upon customers agreeing to supply their bank account details (rather than being informed that the change was taking place or simply not being given an option of a POCA), a far greater proportion retained their Post Office card account. We believe this offers a truer reflection of the feeling among POCA users who fought to have a Post Office based means of receiving their pensions and benefits and wish to retain one.

The NFSP looks forward to continuing to work with Post Office Ltd and with the Government to find a Post Office based solution to this problem.

20/07/2006

Update on EDM 1531

Early Day Motion 1531 on the Abolition of the Post Office Card Account now has the support of 388 Members of Parliament. This makes it the most supported motion of the more than 2,600 tabled by MPs this Parliament. EDM 1531 was tabled by Kate Hoey MP, the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Sub Post Offices. Previously, the best supported motion was EDM 178 on climate change.

NFSP, which supports the motion, believes that this milestone proves beyond question that the card account, and the future of the post office network, are issues of grave national concern. We urge the Government to clarify as a matter of urgency its plans to ensure that all pensions and benefits claimants retain the option to access their cash at the Post Office; and to prioritise its review of the future size, shape and purpose of the network to bring an end to the uncertainty which is undermining subpostmasters' ability to plan for the future of their businesses.

We also call upon the Government to allow time on the floor of the House for a full debate on the future of the card account and the post office network, in order that MPs can fully express their views on these issues and Ministers can clarify to the House the Government's position.

The Federation wishes to thank all members and their customers who have written to their MPs to urge them to sign the EDM and to express their concern about the Government's decision not to renew the contract for the card account after 2010 and the threat to the nation's network of post offices.

Click here to view the full text and the current signatories to the EDM.

18/07/2006

Federation Petition Hits Two Million Signatures

NFSP General Secretary has today told MPs that the Federation's petition to save the Post Office card account has now gained over two million signatures. Speaking at the House of Commons Trade and Industry Committee Inquiry on Royal Mail Group, Mr Baker said: "The public have sent a resounding message to the Government that they still depend on and highly value the services provided by local post offices."

For further information see "Latest Press Releases", or go to "Petition" to download a copy of the petition.

07/07/2006

Update on EDM 1531

Support for Early Day Motion 1531 on the abolition of the Post Office Card Account has now risen to 369 MPs.

Tabled by Kate Hoey MP on 31 January, the EDM is now the second most signed of the more than 2,500 tabled since the May 2005 General Election, behind only the EDM on climate change.

MPs who have pledged their support make up well over half of the entire House of Commons, a figure which includes those MPs such as Government Ministers and Opposition frontbenchers who traditionally are not eligible to sign EDMs.

The Federation urges members to write to their MP and encourage him/her to sign EDM 1531 if he/she has not done so already. Click here to view the full list of MPs who have signed so far. To find out who your MP is and how to contact them click here.

The full text of the EDM reads as follows -

That this House is gravely concerned by the Department of Work and Pensions' (DWP) decision to withdraw support for the Post Office Card Account when the existing contract expires in 2010 and in particular by the Department's attempt to kill off the Account in advance of 2010, through pilot schemes being introduced immediately when it will deny to new benefit claimants the option of opening a Post Office Card Account, inform 35,000 existing customers that they will have to use a bank or building society instead of the Post Office Card Account and require them to provide their account details, and pay benefits of 2,500 existing customers into a bank account rather than the Post Office Card Account, ignoring the preferences they made when their benefit books were stopped; condemns the fact that, in breach of all plans, these pilot schemes are being introduced without consultation; and calls on the Government to halt these pilot schemes immediately and to institute an immediate review of the DWP's proposal to abolish the Post Office Card Account by 2010.

02/07/2006

Ipsos MORI Report On Subpostmaster Income

The NFSP believes that the Government must act to meet the challenges facing subpostmasters and the post office network, revealed in a new report on subpostmasters' income published today by leading market research company Ipsos MORI.

Ipsos MORI concludes: "This report paints a bleak picture of subpostmasters operating on tight margins, with decreasing personal drawings and increasing overheads. Subpostmasters are heavily reliant on income from the Post Office card account and bill payments, both of which are under threat; and the new flagship products, intended to offset loss in pay from traditional products, are bringing in low levels of income and in many cases nothing at all."

NFSP General Secretary Colin Baker says: "The stark reality is that unless the problems of the network are addressed now, the sands of time are running our for most of the nation's post offices.

Click here to download the full report.

16/06/2006

Westminster Hall Debate

Ian Carmichael MP (Lib Dem, Orkney & Shetland) secured a Wesminster Hall debate on Wednesday 14 June on the future of rural post offices. He opened his speech by stressing the need for the voice of the "experts" - the subpostmasters - to be heard when determining the future of the network.

Julia Goldsworthy (Lib Dem, Falmouth & Cambourne) and Philip Dunne (Con, Ludlow) were among those Members who highlighted examples of distress and upset caused to constituents by the DWP's forced migration of POCA customers into having their benefits paid into bank accounts.

MPs from all parties and from across the UK stressed the importance of income from the card account to the viability of rural post offices, and the damage which the Government's proposed withdrawal of POCA will do to post offices and to communities.

Pete Wishart MP (SNP, Perth and North Perthshire) gave a detailed account of the critical social and wider economic role whi