Lamb Urges Post Office to Reconsider Electricity Cards Policy

12.05.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 18th May 2004

Following a recent meeting with a Powergen representative, North Norfolk Lib Dem MP Norman Lamb has called on the Post Office to review this policy which appears to be preventing sub-post offices from selling Powergen meter cards.

"Powergen is happy for individual sub-post offices to continue providing disposable and 'top-up' meter cards despite the agreement with Post Office Ltd having finished," said Mr Lamb. "Selling these cards provides sub-post offices with extra income, from the cards themselves and from the greater volume of overall custom generated by the card customers.

"However, I understand that the Post Office has written to sub-post offices warning them against taking part in the Powergen scheme, and suggesting that participating could result in the loss of their Post Office franchise."

Norman Lamb has written to Post Office Chief Exec David Mills to ask for confirmation of this position. Mr Lamb added: "If this is the case, then I hope the Post Office will immediately reconsider so sub-post offices can start selling Powergen cards to their customers again."

The agreement between Powergen and Post Office Ltd expired 1 April leading to many customers in rural North Norfolk finding it hard to get meter cards. Norman Lamb has also taken up the issue with Powergen and the Secretary of State at the DTI.