Elderly lose out if Post Office loses card account

Speaking in advance of a debate in Westminster on the future of the Post Office Card Account on Monday 10th November 2008 , SNP Postal Affairs spokesperson, Mike Weir MP, has warned that elderly people and vulnerable communities will be worst hit if the Post Office loses the vital contract.

Mr Weir seized on research published by Age Concern which shows that a decision not to award the tender to the Post Office would have a devastating impact on the Post Office network and undermine the UK Government’s own financial inclusion objectives.

Mr Weir said:

"It is increasingly clear that it will be the elderly and vulnerable who will bear the brunt if the Post Office loses the DWP contract.

"The fact is that the card account primarily caters for the elderly and people on low incomes in rural or deprived urban areas who do not have a car or cannot afford public transport to access services elsewhere.

"If the Post Office loses the tender, it would leave huge numbers of people both financially and socially excluded.

"The Post Office is a lifeline service and, with soaring energy prices, increasing pensioner poverty and the credit crunch taking its toll, the ongoing threat to the future of the post office is just unacceptable.

"We were supposed to have a decision months ago, and all the dither and delay by UK Ministers points to the Post Office losing the card account contract."


Notes

1. The UK Government is currently tendering for provision of the service currently offered by Post Office Card account.

2. The UK Government was initially due to announce the results of the tender over the summer, this was then delayed until October - it has still to be announced.

3. Research by Age Concern has found that:
76% of older people are worried about losing essential services if their post office is forced to close.