DAVID HEATH WELCOMES GOVERNMENT POST OFFICE U-TURN

4.56.00pm GMT Thu 13th Nov 2008

Local MP David Heath welcomed the news today that the government have abandoned their plans to put the post office card account out to tender and renewed the contract with the post office.

David said:

"This will come as very welcome news to sub-postmasters and post mistresses across the country, and may save up to 4,000 additional closures of small post offices. It comes after a concerted campaign both inside and outside parliament, and I am glad that we have been able to make a difference.

What is unforgivable is that ministers have for six months now been telling us that they cannot do anything about the tendering process, and yet today they have ripped up what they said was legally binding and done exactly what we called on them to do many months ago. Even last week there were strong rumours that the contract had been awarded to Pay Point, and when we called a debate on the subject on Monday Ministers were unable to say anything positive.

It is good news, but bad management of our national post office network."