Liz Smith, Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland & Fife has called on Ministers to investigate how additional services may be able to be provide by local Post Offices branches. Speaking at Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth Questions in the Scottish Parliament the Perthshire based MSP called on SNP Minsters to investigate how local Councils and the Police could introduce “council and police counters” in Post Office branches to bring on site additional public services and help and advice for members of the public. Liz Smith, Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland & Fife said: “If we are to create a sustainable Post Office network especially in rural communities then the ability to provide additional financial and public services through local branches must be a priority. “The UK Conservative Government has brought forward its Postal Services Bill which aims to break away from the years of decline and push ahead with plans to shape a sustainable future for the Post Office branch network. “From the outset the UK Conservative Government has set out in the Postal Services Bill that the Post Office branch network of around 11,500 Post Offices is not for sale and there will be no programme of closures under this Government. Instead Ministers have agreed that there will be £1.34 billion of new investment to help maintain and modernise the Post Office network for the next century. “There are I believe areas where the Post Office could extend their services such as in working local Councils and the Police to introduce “council and police counters” in Post Office branches to bring on site additional public services and help and advice for members of the public.” ENDS Miles BriggsPolitical Advisor to Liz Smith MSPHolyrood: 0131 348 5884Mobile: 07904 962 580 Notes to Editors: Please find attached the transcript from Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth Questions (02/02/2012). Scottish Parliament Official Report
Post Office Branches (Council Counters)14. Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities on introducing council counters in post office branches. (S4O-00652)The Minister for Local Government and Planning (Derek Mackay): The Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism attended a round-table discussion on 19 January in the Scotland Office at which relevant stakeholders, including the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, discussed the possible role of post offices in delivering some local authority services.Liz Smith: Will the minister agree to investigate the possibility of a national framework for co-locating council and police counters in post office branches, to provide additional help and services for the public, particularly in rural areas?Derek Mackay: A range of considerations can be taken forward to ensure the viability of local post offices. Actions that we can take include continuing the small business bonus scheme, which has been a safeguard for local post offices. Rural post offices have been a particular beneficiary of that, as they have greater rates relief.Local government continues to talk to the Scotland Office about opportunities. A convention will be organised to debate the integration of some services with post offices, to give them the sustainability that the member seeks. I understand from discussions with the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers that nine local authorities are considering working with Post Office Ltd, as well as having the convention discussion that I just mentioned.A range of discussions is on-going to try to integrate services locally. The matter is for local discretion and local support, but the Government encourages any measure that safeguards the future of our post office network.