Subpostmasters demo

Post Office Minister Jim Fitzpatrick will address subpostmasters from every corner of the UK during the event on Wednesday (Oct 18), organised by The National Federation of SubPostmasters.

Subpostmasters are expecting Mr Fitzpatrick to address the Government's long awaited plans for the future of the network.

A petition of four million names calling for the post office network to be protected '“ the largest ever domestic petition handed to a Prime Minister '“ will be delivered to No 10 Downing Street.

The lobby is seeking to gain urgent clarification from the Government on its plans for the post office network. The Federation will also push for a raft of measures designed to create a sustainable post office network.

The event, which will consist of a rally in the morning and a mass lobby of Parliament in the afternoon, will highlight concerns such as the loss of vital income generating post office services.

These include the planned withdrawal of the Post Office Card Account (POCA), used by millions of people to access pensions and benefits.

NFSP General Secretary Colin Baker, who will deliver the petition to No 10 Downing Street, said: "On the eve of our Lobby, we say to Government that it is crunch time for the post office network and the nation's subpostmasters.

"The 28 million customers who use the Post Office every week are confused as to what the Government wants of the network and of the people who run it '“ we believe that the time is now overdue for Ministers to decide.

"On Wednesday, our members and their customers will gather in Westminster to call for answers, and to represent the millions of people who have signed our petition. We are fighting today for the post office of tomorrow, and the Government must act."

The Lobby will begin at 10.30am with the rally in Methodist Central Hall in Westminster. (Please see attached timetable.)

During the rally, Jim Fitzpatrick MP, Parliamentary under Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, will speak together with shadow ministers and organisations which support the Federation's campaign, including Age Concern, the National Federation of Women's Institutes and the Royal National Institute for the Blind.

At 12.40, a delegation from the NFSP will meet with the Prime Minister to discuss the Federation's concerns and demands. Colin Baker will hand in the Federation's petition of four million signatures to No 10 Downing Street at 2pm.

The actual Parliamentary Lobby will begin at 2.30pm, with subpostmasters meeting MPs throughout the afternoon at the House of Commons. Debates and questions on the post office network are expected to be raised in both Houses of Parliament throughout the day.

Kate Hoey MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for sub post offices, who will deliver an introduction speech at the rally, said: "Four million signatures to the NFSP's petition shows the overwhelming support across the country for the nation's precious post office network.

"Almost 400 Members of Parliament have also demonstrated their support by signing my Early Day Motion calling on the Government to reverse its decision to withdraw Post Office card account. This is further evidence of the immense value that people across Britain place on their local post office to provide vital services and strengthen their local community.

"The Government must listen to the concerns raised by supporters of the post office network on 18 October and take swift action to prevent its further deterioration. There is universal support for viable and sustainable post offices. Removing services and forcing people to go elsewhere flies in the face of previous commitments from Government, and will destroy the network."

Notes to editors:

The key objectives for the NFSP lobby will focus not only on the need for a retained and enhanced Post Office Card Account (POCA), together with an improved suite of Post Office based banking products, but will also call for other Government action, including:

A thorough assessment of the social and economic role played by post offices in the UK, and the provision of ongoing support for non-commercial parts of the network.

Recognition of the important social value of post offices by using the post office network to deliver Government services, and to encourage local authorities to offer council services through the network.

A definitive statement on the future size, shape and purpose of a sustainable post office network.

A clear compensation framework for subpostmasters in post offices forced to close, which recognises the investment made in these businesses by subpostmasters and compensates them accordingly.

POCA, which generates an average 10% of subpostmasters' income, is being phased out by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) in advance of its planned withdrawal in 2010. This denies users the right to chose how they access their benefits and threatens the viability of the entire post office network. The DWP has already forced tens of thousands of POCA users to use a bank account to access benefits and pensions, which many do not want to do.