That migration is unavoidable but we have grasped the nettle. This Bill opens up whole new opportunities. But the introduction of Automated Credit Transfer does not even begin until 2003 and will not end until 2005. Mr Johnson said that with banks closing in small communities, post offices could take their place by holding bank accounts for local people. He added that the Government was in the process of computerising the post office network to give it similar powers to banks and building societies, which would be particularly important in rural areas.
Post offices are an essential part of the social fabric of the country.
Richard Horseman, sub-postmaster of Strensall Post Office, hit back at the Minister's comments. I don't see how it can be self-fulfilling when they are doing it for us. If they gave us something tangible we wouldn't be so gloomy. We can't live on thin air. When a third of our income will be lost it is no wonder there is doom and gloom.