SNP stands up for sub post masters

SNP Business spokesman Mike Weir MP, has condemned the UK Government for a total lack of understanding of difficulties facing sub post masters in the face of continuing uncertainty over the Post Office Card Account (POCA).

Speaking after Scottish Questions today (Wednesday), where he drew attention to the massive threat which removing the POCA from the Post Office poses, SNP Mr Weir said:

"POCA is essential to the future of local Post Offices and the continuing uncertainty is undermining the confidence of sub post masters.

"Local Post Offices are the only financial institutions in many communities as banks have long since abandoned rural villages and deprived communities. If the POCA contract is not granted to the Post Office, many of those that survived the latest cull will close undermining the whole future of the network.

"George Thomson, the General Secretary of the National Federation of Sub Postmasters, has pointed out that a typical postmaster earns 10% of their income directly from the POCA and some as much as 20%. The loss of the account would be a disaster.

"In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Thomson states "A great many members of the public will see the decision on the POCA as a test of the Government’s faith in the future of the post office network following the Network Change programme; for sub post masters it is a test of your confidence in the network".

"The woeful lack of knowledge shown by the Minister today raises serious concerns as to whether either the Scotland Office or indeed the UK Government has any conception of the havoc that will be wrought by a decision to deprive Post Offices of POCA.

"The UK Government must rectify this situation urgently and announce that POCA will be retained by the Post Office."

The text of Mr Weir’s exchange with Ms McKechin is as follows:

Mike Weir: Is the Minister aware of the letter written by George Thompson, General Secretary of the National Federation of Sub Postmasters, to the Secretary of State for the Work and Pensions setting out a huge concern about the delays in making a decision on POCA? POCA is important for sub post offices where 10% of their income comes directly from POCA. It is also the last financial institution in many of our villages following the withdrawal of banks of huge sums of government money. Will she impress upon the Secretary of State the importance a quick decision a decision that can save the rural post office?

Anne McKechin (Parliamentary Under Secretary for Scotland): Thank you Mr Speaker. The honourable gentleman rightly indicates that the need to maintain universal access especially in rural areas is important that is why we have maintain a strong rural network so that 95% of the rural population must be within 3 miles of a post office. It is also important that we have a sustainable network and the market are changing and peoples shopping habits are changing and that is why they are currently waiting not only the tender process which is required under EU law but also the terms of the Cooper review which will point at future direction of insuring a sustainable universal access.