Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
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MP's to look at Post Office potential
The Government and the Business and Enterprise Select Committee will work together to examine what additional services the Post Office can offer customers to help secure its long term future.
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said:
"At a time when people are increasingly keen to use trusted and reassuring brands, it is absolutely the right moment to look at how the Post Office can expand the services it offers.
"That is why I have asked the Select Committee to use its in-depth knowledge of the Post Office Network to examine how it might broaden its offer to the public and ensure its long term future.
"Following the announcement that the Post Office will provide the Card Account until 2015 and its emergence as a provider of the new Saving Gateway service, we are keen to see what more it can do."
The Business and Enterprise Select Committee is expected to report its findings to Parliament in early summer.
Notes to Editors
1. The Business and Enterprise Select Committee has agreed to act as a Task Force to identify new services to help secure the long term viability of the post office network.
2. The Business and Enterprise Select Committee is chaired by Peter Luff MP. The Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the administration, expenditure and policy of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and its associated public bodies, including Ofcom and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). For more information visit http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/berr.cfm.
3. On 13 November 2008, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions announced that the Post Office had been awarded the contract to continue providing the Post Office Card Account (POCA). For more information see http://www.dwp.gov.uk/mediacentre/pressreleases/2008/nov/hse111-131108.asp
4. The Pre Budget Report on 24 November 2008 announced that the Post Office would be one of the providers for the new Saving Gateway. For more information, see http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/pbr08_completereport_1721.pdf
