CASHING OF BENEFIT CHEQUES AT POST OFFICE BRANCHES

That this House notes that the Department for Work and Pensions has put the 20 million a year contract for cashing benefit cheques issued under the exceptions service out to tender; further notes that the 400,000 people who use this service include many vulnerable members of society who rely on post office staff for help and advice and that they spend an estimated 12 million a year in post offices; and calls on the Department for Work and Pensions to keep this contract with the Post Office, a trusted organisation with very high security standards which is governed by access criteria that ensure extensive coverage to all customers throughout the UK.