BROWN “MUST MAKE POSITION OF POST OFFICE CLEAR PRIOR TO ELECTION”

POST OFFICE A MAJOR RESERVED MATTER

Mike Weir MP, SNP Westminster Spokesperson on Trade and Industry, has demanded that Prime Minister Gordon Brown makes clear the number of closures of post offices in Scotland prior to any snap General Election.

Mr Weir’s call follows the publication of the first round of proposals for parts of England. The first proposals for an area of Scotland, Glasgow Central and Argyll are due to be published on 23^rd October just a week away from the rumoured General Election date of 1^st November.

“The future of the Post Office network is a major issue for many areas of Scotland. It is a matter reserved to Westminster and it will be utterly perverse if we fight a General Election without knowing the full impact of the current closure programme.”

“The only Scottish scheme due to be published before the end of the year is that for Glasgow, Central and Argyll, which is due just a week before the widely rumoured election date.”

“The Highlands, North East and Borders will not know the proposals until the spring or summer of next year, yet whatever is proposed may have a very dramatic effect on communities throughout these areas.”

“The public consultation period on the proposals is already a ludicrously short six weeks. Yet no one in Scotland will even have that short period to consider the proposals before the poll.”

“In order that we have a campaign on the relevant issues Gordon Brown must make the position of post offices clear prior to any campaign.”