Lyttle says Executive need to deliver for Post Offices

Alliance East Belfast MLA Chris Lyttle will propose a motion in the Assembly on Monday calling for greater support from the Executive for our network of post offices. The motion received cross-party support from the DUP, UUP, SDLP, Sinn Fein and Green Party.

Chris, who was the founding Chair of the Assembly Group on Postal Issues, has called on the Executive to support a development fund for post offices and to back the ‘Keep Me Posted’ campaign.

Chris Lyttle MLA said: “Post Office staff and Sub-Postmasters provide vital services to citizens across Northern Ireland.

“Post Offices are at the heart of local communities with nearly 480 branches in the region. The network offers unrivalled access to a vast range of services including mail services, pensions and benefits, government services and bill payments.

“Other regions throughout the UK have acted to implement a development fund which is helping to sustain the viability of post offices. I hope that OFMDFM will now give serious consideration to a diversification fund for Northern Ireland. This would help subpostmasters to improve post office premises; increase the range of non-post office services and products; and improve the commercial viability and sustainability of the local post offices.

“I also hope that the Executive will back the ‘Keep Me Posted’ campaign to ensure every consumer’s right to choose, without disadvantage, how they are contacted by banks and financial service companies, utility companies, media companies and other service providers.

“Independent research demonstrates that 81% of adults want to choose how they receive important information such as bills and statements. It also reveals that the people who often have the greatest need for paper statements and bills are the older generation, people with a disability, and those that lack access to the internet or lack basic digital skills.”

ENDS

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