Victory for people power over PO Card Account

SNP Postal Affairs spokesperson, Mike Weir MP, has hailed today’s announcement that the Post Office will retain the Post Office Card Account (POCA) contract to distribute benefits to 4.3m claimants.

The decision has been delayed since the summer as Gordon Brown's government dithered over the future of the Post Office and appeared to give the contract to Pay Point .

Mr Weir said:

”Today’s long-awaited announcement is a victory for people power against a dithering Labour government that was determined on privatisation.

”It is still not clear why we had to endure months of delay and confusion over the award of this vital contract, and I welcome the fact the uncertainty has now been ended.

“The UK government has presided over a programme of cuts and confusion that has threatened the future of the Post Office network, and to lose the card account contract would have been devastating.

”The Post Office is a lifeline service and the sooner the UK Government recognise the social value of the network and its services, the better.

”Ministers must now clarify whether they will encourage the Post Office to develop financial products and deliver government services, which would build on the network’s role and sustainability.

”In these days of financial uncertainty, the Post Office is uniquely placed as a trusted and accessible local service, and there is a real opportunity to secure the networks future as an essential local service.”