We could end up with the Government having to pay the banks to take the business rather than paying post offices to continue the business that they carry out. Column 97 People on low incomes can ill afford the charges on bank accounts. Perhaps Ministers have forgotten the problems in living from hand to mouth and managing a very small budget over a month rather than over a week. It is intensely difficult for people to manage in those circumstances, as any citizens advice bureau and any Member who has held a surgery knows. However, the Government's proposal would take away a facility that enables people to budget more easily.
Transport is another problem.
Many people cannot get to a bank. They are airily told that they can use an automated telling machine. However, in some areas of my constituency, the nearest automated telling machine is 30 miles away. There are also societal problems. Post offices provide a much wider resource than simply paying over money or selling a jar of coffee.