POST OFFICES

The Current situation
Our Post Offices have come under threat yet again.  The first threat faced by the Post Office are Government plans to move account holder away from the Post Office Card Account (POCA) which will yet result in a serious reduction of vital footfall away from post offices.  The POCA is an important product for many customers, for example those for whom the post offices are the only convenient means of accessing benefits, for individuals with little or no experience of using financial products and for those who wish to keep these payments separate from their other bank or building society accounts,  The fact that there are now over 4 million POCA holders underlines both the importance of the product, and also the popularity of collecting benefits at post offices.

The second threat facing the Post Offices comes in the form of the 2008 withdrawal of the vital Government support for the Rural Post Office Network, known as the Social Network Payment.  At present, the post office network receives £150 million a year from the Government.  The government is yet to announce its plans for after 2008, or to announce what sort of Rural Post Office Network is is prepared to support post 2008.  The current rural network is under real financial pressure, and concern is building that unless the government is prepared to support managed changes to the shape of the network, access to Post Office services could be jeopardized after 2008 for many rural customers.

What can WI members do?  

Write a letter to your MP
Write to your MP highlighting your concerns regarding the withdrawal and forced migration from the POCA, and your concerns surrounding funding for the post office network after 2008.  Ask your MP to support your local Post Office and to write to the Department for Work and Pensions asking them to ensure that their actions do not lead to the demise of the Post Office.

You may wish to include the following points in your letter:

The withdrawal of vital services like to POCA will force thousands of Post Offices to close down across the country.

• The POCA is used by 4.3 million people every week to access benefit payments and is the only Post Office based option for doing so.  The POCA is being phased out by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) in advance of its planned withdrawal in 2010, denying users the right to chose how they access their benefits and threatening the viability of the entire post office network.  Users will now have to access benefits via a bank account which many simply do not want to do.
• Many people feel misled by the DWP on the POCA, with some given three days notice that benefits would be paid automatically into their bank account instead of their POCA.
• Given that around 75% of rural post offices are run alongside another retail business and many are only likely to remain viable if both businesses are able to continue, post offices can easily be defined as services which contribute to the 'continued viability of rural communities and provide access to employment opportunities'.
• The fact that post offices provide a wide range of important business services in terms of banking, insurance and foreign exchanges (as well as the payment of benefits and pensions), makes them important for sustaining and developing 'viable rural enterprises'.
• Rural post offices have great value (including social value) attached to them by residents, particularly by older people or customers with disabilities.  This is because post offices remain an important source of documentary forms, information and advice on public services.  They also provide access to cash and basic banking facilities, and process social benefits and license applications.  Post offices therefore 'provide key services to local communities and stepping stones to increased economic activity'.  More broadly, the continued existence of post offices sustains 'rural quality of life' and 'enhance(s) opportunity in rural areas for those who are disadvantaged'.
• Government has repeatedly delayed the consultation which will set out its vision for how rural post office services will be delivered and funded in the future.  This delay is feeding growing uncertainty for rural communities and sub postmasters.  Given this, it is essential that government presents its timetable for deciding and consulting on the future of the rural network soon.
• Include any personal stories and make clear to your MP what the Post Office means to yourself and your community.

To find out who you MP is or to obtain their contact details, contact the House of Commons:

Telephone: 020 7219 4272
By letter: House of Commons Information Office,
House of Commons
Westminster
London, SW1A 0AA
By e-mail:hcinfo@parliament.uk
Website:www.upmystreet.com/commons/l/

Petition
There is a petition available from the National Federation of Sub-postmasters and supported by the NFWI.. If you would like a copy please contact the NFWI Public Affairs Department (see details below) or download it from the NFWI website.  Whilst the National Federation of Sub-postmasters has not submitted a deadline on this petition, we would advise that responses are sent back to the NFWI by the beginning of September 2006.

Postwatch
As you may know, the NFWI  sit on the Counters Advisory Group chaired by Postwatch, the watchdog for postal services.  Postwatch has been a force in trying to get government to consult on its strategy for retaining access to post office services and to have meaningful consultation about local plans.  Many WI members have established good contacts with local Postwatch offices.  If you have done so before, why not contact the Postwatch office in your region about this issue and any potential local closures.  For details of your local Postwatch office call the Postwatch helpline on 08456 013265 or visit their website at www.postwatch.co.uk

Personal Stories
Please send the NFWI any personal stories which illustrate what the Post Office means to yourself and your community.  The NFWI will be commenting on this issue as it progresses so please send us any personal stories you may have to strengthen our response and comments.

Contact details: Farah Nazeer, NFWI Public Affairs Department, 104 New Kings Road, London, SW6 4LY; Tel:020 7371 9300; email:f.nazeer@nfwi.org.uk or visit www.womens-institute.org.uk