Government complacent over Post Offices

5.30.39pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 17th Oct 2006

A Liberal Democrat motion expressing concern over the vulnerability of local post offices and calling on the Government to end the 'paralysis in decision-making' over the Post Office network and Royal Mail was rejected by the Government last night. MPs from all main parties criticised the Government during yesterday's opposition day debate over the planned withdrawal of the post office card account and other issues, and called on the Government to bring forward plans for the future of the post office network urgently.

Liberal Democrat DTI Spokesperson Ed Davey said "Ministers are claiming to be taking the tough decisions when in reality they are ducking them. Only the Liberal Democrats have proposed a major reform of Royal Mail that will enable it to compete in the newly liberalised letters market, whilst also raising the cash for investment that the Post Office network desperately needs."