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Lib Dem action saving London Post Offices
January 26, 2012 9:23 AM
London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford has welcomed the news that post offices across London have been handed a lifeline thanks to the actions of Liberal Democrat business minister Ed Davey.
Ed Davey has announced a 10-year deal between the Post Office and the Royal Mail guaranteeing that the Post Office continues to transact all Royal Mail services such as first and second class post, parcels, air mail, recorded and special deliveries.
The deal adds to other recent developments boosting the Post Office network such as £1.4 billion extra government cash, new national and local government contracts, better local offices and improvements in financial services offered.
Sarah Ludford commented:
"More than 20 million people visit a Post Office every week either to post items, manage finances, renew passports or draw their pensions. It was shameful that over 7,000 - including my own local one - closed under Labour's thirteen-year rule."
"Now that post offices have this additional security, I urge them to invest in modernisation such as extended opening hours. Even just staying open on Saturday afternoons would help, whereas full weekend opening would ensure that people busy in the week would still benefit from post office services.""
Notes to Editors
1. Under the Labour Government, Post Office numbers fell by more than 7100, or 38 per cent. In March 2010, there were 11,905 post offices in theUK. In November 2010, the coalition government published its plans to secure the future of the Post Office. Post offices play a key role in their communities and that is why the Government has committed to maintain a network of at least 11,500 branches, building a long-term future for those branches.
2. Post Office Ltd remains in 100% public ownership. A new board has been appointed to oversee the Post Office as an independent business with certainty about its future.
3. Moya Greene, Royal Mail Group's Chief Executive, today warmly welcomed the new, commercial agreement between the Royal Mail Group and Post Office Ltd: "Royal Mail and the Post Office have reached an agreement that is in the best interests of our customers and both businesses. The Post Office will continue to benefit from the sale of stamps and other delivery services. For Royal Mail, the business retains the current, unrivalled, UK-wide, retail distribution network for its products and services aimed at consumers and small businesses. We look forward to a new chapter in our continuing, close relationship."
4. Paula Vennells, Managing Director of Post office Ltd, said: "This vital agreement, along with our ambitious plans for growth in government services, our branch investment and modernisation programme, and our development of digital services will all help to build a long term and sustainable Post Office."
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