Morrice backs post office campaign

Published on 01/09/2012 13:05

LIVINGSTON Labour MP Graeme Morrice has pledged his support to a campaign for local post offices to continue to offer a range of government services.

Post Office Ltd is currently bidding for the new ten-year DVLA contract, which includes issuing tax discs, and the fear is that losing such services would leave post offices struggling to survive.

Several hundred people in West Lothian have already backed a National Federation of Sub-postmasters campaign for the retention of DVLA and other government services at the Post Office.

Mr Morrice said: “Post offices provide a hugely important service to local people and are the natural home for all forms of government work.

“The last government invested £1.7 billion in the Post Office network between 2007-11 and expanded the range of services that were available at post offices, such as renewing driving licences and collecting tax credit payments.

“However, the present Tory-led government has failed to build on this progress, letting down the public and putting at risk the long-term future of the Post Office network.

“During my recent visits to local post offices it has become clear that many already have deep concerns about how they can maintain their service and the loss of government work could be the tipping point.”