PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
FUTURE OF THE POST OFFICE (7 March 2012)

That this House recognises the vital role the Post Office plays throughout the country, supporting businesses and communities and providing access to a wide range of services; notes that Post Office Ltd is planning to convert over 50 per cent. of its branch network to new operating models over three years from April 2012, with 2,000 branches to be converted to the new Locals operating model; further notes that Consumer Focus has described this restructuring as being `as significant, if not more challenging, than previous restructure exercises'; further notes that there are concerns among businesses and local communities over the smaller range of services which will be available at Locals, over caps being applied to benefit payments and parcels services in Locals and over the number of existing sub-post offices which may close as a result of the proposals; expresses its concern that Post Office Ltd has not yet fully trialled the Locals model in converted post offices and that there is limited opportunity for public engagement; and calls for Post Office Ltd to impose a moratorium on the proposed rollout of the Locals model until it has carried out a full national consultation on this.

Sponsored by:
Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour)