Serious risk that floodgates of mass rural Post Office closure will soon be opened - Lamb

12.24.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 11th Jan 2006

Liberal Democrat Trade and Industry Spokesperson Norman Lamb will today address MPs in a parliamentary debate secured to discuss the future of the Post Office network.

"The current Government protection against no closures within the rural Post Office network ends this March. Coupled with the Government still failing to give any guarantees on economic subsidies beyond March 2008, there is a serious risk that the floodgates of mass rural post office closures will soon be opened," says Mr Lamb.

"Action and reassurance is need by the Government now to prevent this occurring. The closure of rural post offices can have a profound effect on communities, particularly the more vulnerable members of society such as the elderly, disabled and those without transport of their own."

"It is vital that the true social value of this network is included as well as its economic value when looking at the long-term future of this valuable network."