POST BANK

That this House welcomes the commitment given to the Post Office in the Coalition Agreement document The Coalition: Our Programme for Government, to expand banking and financial services provided by the Post Office; notes the excellent work of the Post Bank Coalition in raising awareness of a more responsible approach to banking, especially by utilising the Post Office; further notes that the equivalent of one million of the UK's 4.8 million small firms are unhappy with their bank according to the FSB-ICM Voice of Small Business survey panel; further notes that a recent YouGov poll has found that 78 per cent. of people believe there is a need for a publicly-run bank; and calls on the Government to introduce a Post Bank that is solely-owned by the Post Office, to provide affordable access to finance for businesses and low income families as a priority.