This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6664109.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Darling to detail postal closures | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Some 2,500 post offices - a fifth of those left in the UK - are to close by 2009, the government is set to confirm. | Some 2,500 post offices - a fifth of those left in the UK - are to close by 2009, the government is set to confirm. |
| Trade Secretary Alistair Darling is expected to confirm the closures when he makes a Commons statement later on the future of the network. | Trade Secretary Alistair Darling is expected to confirm the closures when he makes a Commons statement later on the future of the network. |
| Ministers say the current network is "unsustainable", with fewer customers and losses of £4m a week. | |
| Opposition parties say further closures will devastate local communities, particularly in rural areas. | Opposition parties say further closures will devastate local communities, particularly in rural areas. |
| Mr Darling is expected to publish the details of a consultation exercise into the proposed restructuring of the post office system. | Mr Darling is expected to publish the details of a consultation exercise into the proposed restructuring of the post office system. |
| It is believed he will order a series of "local area reviews" during the next 18 months in 60 areas, each covering several constituencies. | It is believed he will order a series of "local area reviews" during the next 18 months in 60 areas, each covering several constituencies. |
| There have been 2,500 responses from pressure groups and members of the public since the consultation process was ordered in December last year. | There have been 2,500 responses from pressure groups and members of the public since the consultation process was ordered in December last year. |
| Big losses | Big losses |
| More than 4,000 post offices have shut in the past eight years, with another 2,500 expected to close by 2009. | More than 4,000 post offices have shut in the past eight years, with another 2,500 expected to close by 2009. |
| Some four million fewer people a week are using post offices than they were two years ago and the network is losing £4m a week, despite an annual public subsidy of £150m. | Some four million fewer people a week are using post offices than they were two years ago and the network is losing £4m a week, despite an annual public subsidy of £150m. |
| Most recently, post offices have been affected by the decision to pay pension and child benefit directly into bank accounts while TV licences, driving licences and passports are now being supplied online and through other retailers. | Most recently, post offices have been affected by the decision to pay pension and child benefit directly into bank accounts while TV licences, driving licences and passports are now being supplied online and through other retailers. |
| The Conservatives say the government has failed to have a long-term vision for the system. | The Conservatives say the government has failed to have a long-term vision for the system. |
| But ministers are stressing they want to preserve the national network, with safeguards to ensure that rural communities and deprived urban areas will continue to have "reasonable" access to services. | But ministers are stressing they want to preserve the national network, with safeguards to ensure that rural communities and deprived urban areas will continue to have "reasonable" access to services. |