POST OFFICE NETWORK

That this House is concerned by the fact that a quarter of the Post Office network has closed since 1997; is further concerned by the Department for Work and Pensions' plan to end the Post Office Card Account scheme in 2010; is further concerned that Royal Mail bosses have even suggested that the Post Office network could be reduced to just 4,000 branches; recognises the important social role played by post offices; believes that steps need to be taken to end uncertainty over the future of the network; and calls on the Government to allow subpostmasters to provide a greater range of products and services, to review its decision to abolish the Post Office Card Account and to encourage local councils to see what services they could provide through post offices creating council counters in their area better to engage with local residents.