Letter from Rt Hon Sir George Young Bt
MP
Thank you for your letter dated 6 December.
As you will know from my intervention in the
debate on your Committee's report, we would have welcomed more
openness about the viability of the post offices that were being
proposed for closure. Not only would this have encouraged a better
informed debate but it would also have given local authorities
and others the opportunity to consider whether they would dig
into their pockets and make an offer to the Post Office to keep
a particular sub-post office open, without the Post Office itself
being out of pocket.
Some of the sub-postmasters I spoke to felt
constrained about what they could say, due to their agreement
with the Post Office.
There was a feeling that the consultation period
was too short, and real concern that the alternative post offices—who
would have to cope with the business from the closed ones—would
not be able to accommodate the extra business.
Final decisions on Hampshire are not going to
be announced until after the final date for written responses
to your Committee.
6 December 2007
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