PRESS RELEASE

2 June 2008

Ad Hoc 01/08

 

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE CALLS ON POST OFFICE TO SUSPEND CLOSURES AND CHANGES

Post Office closures and changes to services will impact unfairly on disadvantaged vulnerable people across Northern Ireland says the Northern Ireland Assembly Ad Hoc Committee on Local Postal Services.

The Committee today published a report into local postal services and presented it to the Assembly.

Following approval of the report by the Assembly, the Committee Chairperson, Mr Robin Newton MLA said, “The Committee is extremely concerned at the proposed post office closures and changes to services and the impact they are likely to have on the more disadvantaged and vulnerable people across Northern Ireland. The Committee wants the network to be protected and believes that strategies can be adopted to achieve this.

“The Committee is disappointed at the way in which the process was carried out and that Northern Ireland’s unique position was not recognized. The Committee had fundamental difficulties with the criteria used and how they were applied to the Northern Ireland region.

“We have asked the Secretary of State to suspend progressing with the closures and changes to services until Post Office Ltd has followed up on the Committee’s report.”

Notes for Editors

The Ad Hoc Committee was established following the announcement by Post Office Ltd that a number of local post offices are to close. The Committee’s remit was to consider, and make proposals for, partnerships that could enhance the economic case for viable local postal services. The Committee took evidence from a wide range of groups from across Northern Ireland as well as from Post Office Ltd.

The Committee was established on 28 April 2008; the members of the Committee are:

Chairperson Mr Robin Newton Belfast East
Deputy Chairperson Mr Willie Clarke South Down
Committee Members Mr Billy Armstrong Mid Ulster
Mr Thomas Buchanan West Tyrone
Mr Trevor Clarke South Antrim
Mr John Dallat East Londonderry
Mrs Carmel Hanna Belfast South
Mr William Irwin Newry & Armagh
Mrs Naomi Long Belfast East
Mr Fra McCann Belfast West
Mrs Claire McGill West Tyrone
Mr George Savage Upper Bann

The following members deputized:
Mr Roy Beggs East Antrim
Mr Thomas Burns South Antrim
Mr Anna Lo Belfast South

Committee Clerk: Mairead Mageean
Room 33, Parliament Buildings
Stormont, Belfast BT4 3XX
Telephone: (028) 9052 0348
Fax: (028) 9052 1962
E-mail: ahpostalservices@niassembly.gov.uk

For further information on the work of the Ad Hoc Committee on local postal services, please contact:

Debra Savage
Press Office
Northern Ireland Assembly,
Room B2, Parliament Buildings,
Belfast BT4 3XX.
Telephone 028 90521137/521396.
Fax 028 90521961.
Email: debra.savage@niassembly.gov.uk