POST OFFICES AND BENEFIT PAYMENTS

Early day motion 157, tabled 7 December 1999 by Steve Webb (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 138 members.

That this House attaches great importance to the maintenance of a nationwide network of town and village post offices; notes the concerns of the National Federation of Subpostmasters about the implications for the network of the move to benefit payment by Automated Credit Transfer over the period 2003 to 2005; and therefore calls on the Government to offer reassurances to Britain's subpostmasters and subpostmistresses that their livelihoods will not be jeopardised by this change.

Signatures by party: Labour 69, Liberal Democrat 31, Conservative 19, Labour/Co-operative 6, UUP 5, Plaid Cymru 3, Scottish National Party 3, Independent 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.