'Imperative' government does more to protect Post Office network, insists Ross-shire MSP

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A ROSS-based MSP has backed calls to the UK government to ensure the future of the Post Office network.

Kate Forbes, whose constituency includes Dingwall and the Black Isle, has backed calls from SNP MPs at Westminster over the issue.

The calls come as new figures show Scotland is being hit hardest by post office closures.

Of 1016 temporarily closed branches in the UK, 134 are in Scotland – some 13 per cent.

SNP MPs obtained an Adjournment Debate at Westminster last week on the matter, highlighting the rising importance of Post Offices to small towns and rural communities.

Miss Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, said: “Local Post Offices so important to Highland villages, particularly so with the mass bank branch closures.

“This is particularly true for the elderly and those with additional support needs, because of the face-to-face services that they provide. Our local Post Offices play a huge role in daily life – they can be a lifeline for everything from pensions and benefits to vital day-to-day banking services.

“In many communities across the Highlands, the local Post Office is the last place where a face-to-face service is available, making it essential for people who live here. Unlike some of the banks, the Post Office is a publicly owned body so it is imperative that the UK Government steps in and acts to ensure that the Post Office gets a fair deal.”