Moore Urges PM to Support Post Office Network

12.00.00am GMT Wed 3rd Mar 2010

Michael Moore MP and Mr Mervyn Jones presenting the Post Office Petition to No 10 Downing Street

Borders postmaster Mervyn Jones joined local MP Michael Moore at 10 Downing Street this afternoon to deliver a petition calling on Ministers to secure the future of the Post Office network.

The petition, launched by Mr Moore at the end of last year, is urging the Government to expand the range of services available at post offices in Scotland and end the ongoing programme of office closures. In the Borders, post offices in Greenlaw, Morebattle and elsewhere were closed as part of the network change programme.

A report from the Public Accounts Committee in November 2009 criticised the social and economic assessment undertaken by the Government at the time that plans for post office closures were announced.

Mr Moore is a longstanding opponent of the network change programme and voted against the Government's post office closures when they were first debated in the House of Commons during 2008.

Commenting, Mr Moore said:

'The strength of the response to this petition shows just how important the services provided by our local post office staff are to people around the Borders. The Government's post office closures have had a devastating impact on communities across the South of Scotland.

'Instead of continuing with the discredited network change programme, Ministers need to concentrate on the expanding the range of services available from the Post Office and securing the long term future of the network.'