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| MPs in call to save post offices | MPs in call to save post offices |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| MPs are calling on the government to protect the Post Office network. | MPs are calling on the government to protect the Post Office network. |
| A Commons Trade and Industry committee report will say unless action is taken, the benefits the Post Office provides to communities could be "lost forever". | |
| It says sub-postmasters feel a "sense of betrayal" over plans such as the scrapping of the Post Office card account - a key source of revenue. | |
| Earlier this month, a petition with four million signatures was handed to Downing Street over the issue. | Earlier this month, a petition with four million signatures was handed to Downing Street over the issue. |
| The National Federation of Sub-postmasters handed in the petition which called for urgent action to protect rural post offices. | |
| Tony Blair has said people were changing the way they used post offices and there can be no extra subsidies. | Tony Blair has said people were changing the way they used post offices and there can be no extra subsidies. |
| There are more than 14,000 Post Office branches in the UK, roughly divided between rural and urban areas and down from more than 18,000 in 1999. | There are more than 14,000 Post Office branches in the UK, roughly divided between rural and urban areas and down from more than 18,000 in 1999. |
| POST OFFICES IN CRISIS Despite subsidies of £150m, post offices lost £111m in 2005Postcomm estimates 1,500 of 8,000 rural post offices make money72% of sub-postmasters are uncertain about the future, says PostcommRevenue from services withdrawn from post offices fell £168m in past year | |
| Campaigners say a further 6,000 are under threat, with the current £150m-a-year subsidy for the rural network due to be withdrawn in 2008. | Campaigners say a further 6,000 are under threat, with the current £150m-a-year subsidy for the rural network due to be withdrawn in 2008. |
| The government says the 800 smallest post offices are used by an average of 16 people a week. | The government says the 800 smallest post offices are used by an average of 16 people a week. |
| The cross-party committee says there is a reluctant acceptance that current network of branches cannot be sustained. | The cross-party committee says there is a reluctant acceptance that current network of branches cannot be sustained. |
| However, it insists that the 4,000 offices suggested by Royal Mail is too few. The committee also says the government may need to put in more money. | However, it insists that the 4,000 offices suggested by Royal Mail is too few. The committee also says the government may need to put in more money. |
| The Post Office card account, which is used to access pensions and benefits, is set to be withdrawn. | The Post Office card account, which is used to access pensions and benefits, is set to be withdrawn. |
| The Commons Trade and Industry committee points out that sub-postmasters are already losing income from selling television and driving licences. | |
| Almost 400 MPs have already signed an early day motion calling for the decision to withdraw the Post Office card account to be reversed. | Almost 400 MPs have already signed an early day motion calling for the decision to withdraw the Post Office card account to be reversed. |
| Mr Blair said the government would look at the options, but the reason that there is a problem is that more and more people are using bank accounts rather than the post office. | Mr Blair said the government would look at the options, but the reason that there is a problem is that more and more people are using bank accounts rather than the post office. |