Member Article

Government backs plans to mutualise the Post Office

The Government has backed plans for mutualising post offices, which have already received widespread support from staff and the public.

The Government has committed £1.34 billion of funding to the business, and has confirmed that there will be no closure programme under the coalition.

According to the Postal Affairs minister Norman Lamb, a consultation had received much enthusiasm amongst subpostmasters, staff and the public for a stake in the Post Office.

He said: “Post office branches are relied upon by communities the length and breadth of the country,”

“This consultation has shown that those who know the Post Office best - its staff, subpostmasters and consumers - have a clear interest in playing a greater role in how it operates.

“A mutual Post Office would bring together the diverse interests of those who use, work for and run Post Office branches, with the shared purpose of running the business for the benefit of the public.”

While the Communication Workers Union has supported the announcement, some concerns remain over how the mutual model will work.

Billy Hayes, Communication Workers Union general secretary, said: “Today’s report paints a positive future for the Post Office, but the suitability of a mutual model is still unclear.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .