CROWN POST OFFICE CLOSURES IN SCOTLAND

Early day motion 1312, tabled 20 December 2005 by Michael Connarty (Labour). Signed by 36 members.

That this House is deeply concerned at the proposal of the Post Office to cease the direct operation of the Crown post offices at Bathgate, Coatbridge, Dunfermline, Perth, Glasgow Hope Street and Dumfries and franchise them out to the Spar supermarket chain so the Post Office counters service will be delivered at the back of often inadequately-sized general stores; believes that the Post Office has not provided adequate financial or service level information to justify the proposals or allow them to be assessed and challenged; notes that previous decisions to franchise Crown Post Office services into supermarkets have not been judged a success by the public with complaints of poor levels of service; and calls upon Post Office Ltd. to think again about these proposals which it has suspiciously put out for consultation over the festive season, so that a dialogue can begin with the hon. Members and other representatives of service users in the areas affected before the Post Office commits itself to actions which will damage the service it delivers in Scotland.

Signatures by party: Labour 26, DUP 3, Liberal Democrat 3, Scottish National Party 3, UUP 1.