POST OFFICE TRANSFERS TO WH SMITH

That this House deplores the proposal by the Post Office to franchise the busy crown post offices in Ashton-under-Lyne and several other major towns to WH Smith; notes the level of anger and disappointment at the proposal which is being expressed by the people of Ashton-under-Lyne in the form of letters, petitions and spontaneous customer boycott of WH Smith; is concerned that this proposal is the `thin end of a wedge' which could lead to the effective privatisation of all crown post offices; further notes the loss of jobs and lower salaries to be offered to staff to perform the complex and demanding duties currently carried out by hard working Post Office counter staff which risks a much diminished level of service to customers; and calls on the Post Office and WH Smith to abandon their proposal forthwith.