Iain Wright MP has welcomed Government moves to back a secure future for the Post Office. There will be more banking services for local people following an overwhelmingly positive response to the Government’s consultation on the future of the Post Office.

The Government is to provide £180 million of new funding for the Post Office. There will be a major expansion of the financial services offered by the Post Office, in a drive to put banking back into the heart of communities and making the Post Office network of 11,500 branches more sustainable.

Local MP Iain Wright said:

” This is great news for our Post Offices. People have made their views clear and the Government has listened, we will get more services provided by the Post Office.

“This will open up a range of good value, simple financial products for everyone. Today marks a major step towards making the Post Office a sustainable neighbourhood banking service.”

Lord Peter Mandelson said:

“Since the global banking crisis we have set about reinventing the financial services industry piece-by-piece, building a system that is fairer, trusted and more responsible.

“Today is the next step in that process. The Post Office is a well-loved community institution and this move will bring more banking services back to the heart of those communities.”

These new measures build on recent announcements in the Budget. They show that the Government will continue to work to improve the supply of affordable credit for low-income households, including by supporting third sector lenders.

The Government has also announced an intention to consult on making sure banks make an appropriate contribution to community lenders, proposing using a new community levy to be funded by retail banks that will support a link between credit unions and Post Offices.