Minister gives stamp of approval to protecting Post Office network
Government response to the Post Office Green Paper published today by Ministers, confirming that the minimum branch requirement will be maintained.
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Post Office network protected for the future, with the Government maintaining the听minimum听requirement of 11,500 branches.听听
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New commitment introduced that over half of all branches must be full-time and full-service.听
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Over听拢480听million听to transform the Post Office into a modern, efficient business while preserving its vital role in communities.听
The long-term future of community post offices has been听secured听today as听Government听confirmed听plans to retain the number of branches serving millions of loyal customers across the country.听
In its response to the Post Office Green Paper, a听review launched last year听to听assess the future of the Post Office,听Ministers听have听maintained听the听existing minimum requirement听of 11,500 branches.听听
This will听ensure听local听communities听across the UK听retain access听to the vital services Post Offices provide, such as听sending and receiving parcels, banking and听ID renewals,听and follows fierce campaigning to protect听the much-loved high street staples.听
In a听further boost to locals and small businesses,听a new requirement will be听introduced听that听ensures a minimum number of听full-time, full-service branches, guaranteeing a high-quality听and more consistent听service for customers.听
Post Office Minister Blair McDougall said:听
Post听offices听at the heart of our听communities听have听delivered听invaluable services on high streets across the country for decades.听
Protecting branches has always been our priority.听I听am听proud听to听confirm the network will be safeguarded for the future听and that the Post Office will have the certainty to implement its transformation plan.听
I听would听like to thank the postmasters and everyone who responded to the Green Paper 鈥� your contributions have helped shape the Post Office for generations to come.
Neil Brocklehurst, Post Office Chief Executive, said:听听
The Government鈥檚 Green Paper response provides direction for our network and recognises the essential in-person services our postmasters and partners offer to make everyday life easier for communities across the UK.听
The Government鈥檚 investment is also a vote of confidence in Post Office鈥檚 transformation. It means we can continue to upgrade branches and their technology to provide the modern and efficient retail experience which our customers expect from their local post office.听
We will continue to work closely with postmasters, partners and Government throughout Post Office鈥檚 transformation and, with the right conditions, I鈥檓 confident we will see a thriving Post Office network across the UK for generations to come.听
To support the transformation of the Post Office听into a modern, efficient business, the Government听will be making a significant investment of听拢483 million over the next two years.听听
This听includes听funding to modernise branches听with听new听technology听such as self-service听devices听and to听improve听delivery of听products and services听to better the customer experience. This funding will also enable a major technology听transformation programme that听will transition operations away from Fujitsu and ultimately听assist with the long overdue听replacement of听the Horizon system.听听听
Recognising the unique role听that the Post Office plays听in听British life听and the lifeline it provides,听today鈥檚 announcement underlines the Government鈥檚 determination to protect that role and give the Post Office the stability it needs to plan for the future.听
In addition to upgrading and protecting services, a further 拢37.4 million will be provided to assist the Post Office in delivering redress to victims of the Horizon scandal听and participating in the final听stages of the听Horizon IT听Inquiry.听This听drives forward听the Government鈥檚听long-standing听commitment to ensure that all those who suffered听as a result of听this听miscarriage of justice听receive the compensation and听support听they deserve.
NOTES TO EDITORS听
- The Government鈥檚 Green Paper response can be found here -听Government response: Future of the Post Office