No further post office closures, says Minister

THE UK's Postal Affairs Minister has been forced to promise there will be "no further" post office closures in Scotland ahead of a Commons debate on the issue.

Labour MP Gregg McClymont had claimed that the UK government plans to privatise Royal Mail would lead to a third of Scotland's post offices closing.

However, after Mr McClymont secured a Commons debate on the issue on Monday the UK Minister for Postal Affairs, Edward Davey, stepped in and promised that branches would be "protected".

Mr Davey said: "Let us be clear, the previous Government's closure programmes resulted in 5,000 post offices shutting across the UK, including 600 in Scotland. My message is clear - we will protect the Post Office, there will be no further programme of closures and it is not for sale.

"The current level of deliveries will also be maintained - this is the number one reason we are taking action. We have no intention of downgrading the six-day, one-price-goes-anywhere service that is so essential to consumers, small businesses and rural communities."