Beith takes on Post Office over subpostmasters' pay

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 21st May 2010

Post Offices in the Berwick upon Tweed constituency could still be forced to close even after the conclusion of the Government's Network Change Programme, following the decision by the Post Office to cut sub-postmasters pay, according to local MP Sir Alan Beith.

Sir Alan was responding to a warning from the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters that thousands of subpostmasters could be out of work unless their pay improves. All subpostmasters receive a basic income of £10,000, plus commission on each transaction processed. Both are set to be cut according to the Federation.

Speaking at their annual conference in Torquay, federation general secretary George Thomson warned that up 3,000 sub-postmasters, including hundreds in rural communities such as Northumberland villages could be forced to close.

Commenting Sir Alan said:

"Post Office Limited needs to work hard to rebuild public trust after the Network Change programme, in which the consultation was condemned as a "sham" by the National Audit Office.

"We were assured that the mobile Post Offices would continue to serve the communities which were faced with the loss of their local service and we have already seen a proposal to reduce the mobile service at North Charlton.

"I have asked Post Office Limited to provide me with evidence to support their assertion that very few people are using the North Charlton service. I will be looking very closely at the evidence behind any proposals to cut our services.

"I am extremely concerned that about the threat of possible post office closures because of the decision by the Post Office to cut subpostmasters' pay, which has been highlighted by the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters.

"Our village Post Offices are the heart of their communities. It would be devastating for the local community if the future of Post Offices across rural Northumberland is once again placed under a cloud.

"The Post Office has always been able to provide vital financial services such as pensions, bank accounts and savings to people in rural communities. I'm hopeful that the new coalition government will develop new products and services to ensure that the Post Office remains at the heart of rural communities."