PRESS STATEMENT – PRESS STATEMENT – PRESS STATEMENT

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SDLP MLA BURNS: URGES PRIME MINISTER TO SAVE POST OFFICE CARD ACCOUNT

SDLP South Antrim MLA Thomas Burns has urged Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the UK government to ensure that the successor product contract for the Post Office Card Account (POCA) is awarded to the Post Office.

Mr Burns said: ”I have been contacted by many constituents who use the Post Office Card Account [POCA] and who wish to see the Post Office selected for its successor contract.

”I fully recognise the compelling arguments for the Post Office to be granted the successor contract to this hugely successful product.

“The POCA is used by over four million people as a simple way to access banking services. This contract generates £200 million for the Post Office each year and is essential to the future viability of the Post Office Network.

“The Post Office is best placed to deliver the POCA service due to its incomparable geographical reach, its trustworthiness in the eyes of citizens and its accumulated expertise as the existing provider of the account to customers.

“SDLP MPs have signed an Early Day Motion in parliament expressing their support for the Post Office retaining this vital service and leader Mark Durkan has written directly to the Prime Minister to ask government to ensure that the successor product contract is awarded to the Post Office.

“In addition, at Assembly level, the SDLP have proposed that the Social Security Agency in Northern Ireland should arrange its own POCA if the UK government abandons it. Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie has asked officials to examine the feasibility and requirements associated with such a move.

“This would be in the best interests of current and future account users and of everyone who uses the Post Office.”

ENDS