Annual reports on the Post Office network

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The Government has tabled an amendment to the Postal Services Bill today to ensure that robust and transparent information about the Post Office network is published every year.

The amendment introduces a new requirement for the Post Office to produce an annual report about the number, location and accessibility of Post Offices across the national network.

Minister for Postal Affairs Pat McFadden said:

"The Post Office network is part of the fabric of this country. It plays a vital commercial, public and social role.

"We want transparent information about how accessible the network is, in particular to small businesses, rural communities, the elderly, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, to be published every year.

"This information will help us to work with the Post Office to ensure that the network maintains its wide national coverage and continues to serve all our communities well."

John Wright, National Chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said:

"The Post Office network is absolutely crucial to small businesses and to keeping communities alive. According to a recent FSB poll, nine out of 10 small businesses said that they use Post Offices to buy stamps and send letters and nearly half use their Post Office a couple of times each week. Small firms cannot afford to see any more Post Offices close and the FSB welcomes the Government's indication that it will not support a further programme of closures and that it will promote transparency about the accessibility of the network."

Michelle Mitchell, Charity Director for Age Concern and Help the Aged, said:

"One of the key promises made during the last round of post office closures was that even with large numbers of shops closing, no one would be left without easy access to a local post office. We know that for some older people, even a 10 minute walk with no place to rest puts a branch out of reach.

"It is important that a close eye is kept on the newly shaped network to ensure promises are kept and no older people are left without access to post office services. The charity will be warmly supporting this important amendment to review access to post office services for older people."

Notes to editors
The wording of the amendment is as follows:

Annual report on post office network
(1) A Post Office company must send to the Secretary of State each year a report on its network of post offices.

(2) The report must give details of:

(a) the number and location of the company's post offices, and

(b) their accessibility to users of postal and other services.

(3) The report must, in particular, provide information about the accessibility of the company's post offices to:

(a) individuals living in rural areas,

(b) individuals living in urban areas,

(c) small businesses,

(d) disadvantaged individuals, individuals with low incomes and individuals with disabilities, and

(e) individuals who are elderly.

(4) The report must contain such other information as the Secretary of State may from time to time require.

(5) The Secretary of State must lay a copy of the report before Parliament.

(6) References in this section to a company's post offices (or network of post offices) are to those post offices (whether or not owned or operated by the company) that the company is engaged in providing.