POST OFFICES AND BANKING FACILITIES

Early day motion 389, tabled 12 January 2004 by Michael Weir (Scottish National Party). Signed by 33 members.

That this House welcomes the agreements reached by the Post Office to offer banking facilities for customers of many major banks in post offices throughout the United Kingdom; believes that this arrangement will be good for bank customers since many small branches have closed in recent years and may go some way to improving the prospects of sub-post offices that have been hard hit by the Government's decision to put pressure on those in receipt of pensions and benefits to have them paid directly into bank accounts; regrets, however, that the major Scottish banks, Royal Bank of Scotland, Halifax Bank of Scotland and Clydesdale Bank have not joined in the scheme; believes this will mean many Scots, particularly in rural areas, will be unable to benefit from this initiative; and calls on the major Scottish banks to join the scheme.

Signatures by party: Labour 17, Liberal Democrat 8, Plaid Cymru 3, Scottish National Party 3, Conservative 1, DUP 1.