WEIR SUPPORTS SUB-POST MASTERS’ PETITION

Angus MP Mike Weir has thrown his weight behind the SubPostmasters’ petition to stop the UK Government scrapping the Post Office Card Account, which currently allows those collecting their benefits or pensions from their local Post Office.

The petition by the National Federation of SubPostmasters urges the Government to reconsider scrapping card accounts used to pay pensions and benefits and has become available for signature after being launched by the National Federation of SubPostmasters on Tuesday.

Mr Weir who has already made a number of interventions against the Government’s plans to cease the card account in 2010 said:

“I am fully backing this petition because the Government’s previous decision to pay benefits into bank accounts robbed the Post Office of 40% of its business.  As a result we have already seen many local Post Offices close.

“The Card Account was supposed to help Post Offices retain business but its deliberate undermining by this government will lead to another round of post office closures, fatally damaging the whole network, leaving pensioners and benefit claimants living in areas already without a bank denied easy access to their money.

“The Government has to wake up and reverse their decision now!”