27th May 2008

Soames Calls on Prime Minister to Reconsider Post Office Closure Decisions

Nicholas Soames has written to the Prime Minister to say to him that in view of the catastrophic by-election result for the Labour Party at Crewe and Nantwich and the Prime Minister’s response that he would now listen to what people were saying; that he should therefore reconsider the very unpopular, unjust and unfair decision that the Labour Government have taken to close four Post Offices in Mid Sussex.

Mr Soames said; “These Post Offices represent vital community assets for local people, they are convenient and much valued and by removing them the Government are further dismantling the social architecture and facilities of one of the most rapidly growing areas in the UK.”

He went on to say; “These decisions never made any sense; they flew in the face of all public consultation and the wishes that were expressed and the Prime Minister should honour his words after the by-election that he would listen, and rescind the closure orders.”

-ends-

Notes

Question to the Prime Minister; Prime Minister’s Questions, 30/1/08

Mr. Nicholas Soames (Mid-Sussex) (Con): The Prime Minister may be aware that the Post Office earmarked four post offices for closure in the Mid-Sussex constituency. It invited a detailed consultation for six weeks, to which there were more than 6,500 replies—all unreservedly in favour of retaining those post offices. On Tuesday, however, the Post Office announced that they are all to be closed. Why does the Prime Minister allow his Government to be party to such a rotten deceit of the public in respect of that consultation?

The Prime Minister: We have made £1.7 billion to help post offices in this country and we will continue to make money available for Post Office services. There is a process of consultation and an appeals system, although I do not know whether it was taken up. I urge the hon. Gentleman to meet the Minister in charge of the Post Office. We are listening to what people say, but the fact of the matter is that many post offices are not used in any great detail. We will continue to put the money in to help the Post Office service.

[30th January 2008]