Scrapping pension book means 45,000 fewer customers for local post offices, says Stunell

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 9th Dec 2003

Today Local MP Andrew Stunell joined the Liberal Democrat spokesman for Work and Pensions and other Liberal Democrat MPs to hand in petitions to Downing Street on behalf of Stockport residents angered by threat of future post office closures.

New figures revealed by the Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesman, Steve Webb, show that local post offices will lose up to 51% customers, as pensioners in future collect their entitlement at banks and building societies due to pressure from Government.

Andrew Stunell MP said:

"Thousands of pensioners chose to have a pension book. The Government is now telling them to think again. Heavy handed tactics will create a mass exodus of pensioners out of the post office and into the high street banks."

Pensioners have reported being talked into signing up for new bank accounts and internal Government documents reveal that staff are under pressure to push to customers into taking this 'cheap' option.

The new figures show that in the Stockport area, up to 45,000 people who get their money at the post office, including 13,000 pension book users, will in future get their money from a bank or building society.

"The Government plans will rob the post office network of vital revenue and will accelerate the rate of closures. Many of the pensioners who want to stick with the post office could be met with a permanent 'closed' sign.

ENDS