Co-op MPs call for easier accounts at the Post Office.

David Lepper, Brighton Pavilion Labour and Co-operative MP, has backed an Early Day Motion put down in the House of Commons by fellow Co-op MP David Drew calling on the Government and the Post Office Ltd to make it easier for people to open a Post Office card account.

David says:

"I campaigned to keep the new version of the card account with the Post Office Ltd rather than handing it over to a private operator.

"I welcome the decision which the Government took on that and the comments by the Secretary of State for Business Peter Mandelson about looking for ways in which the Post Office can be made a hub for a range of public services. That’s something I urged on the Government back in October 2002.

"Now that the decision has been taken on the Post Office Card Account I hope that government will look again how it can simplify the process of applying for an account card and how the card can be more widely used. That could be an important factor in helping to secure the future of branch post offices."

The EDM reads:

"That this House welcomes the award of the new contract for the continuation of the Post Office card account to Post Office Ltd; is concerned that the process of invitation and application needed to open an account is unnecessarily complicated and proves a deterrent to take-up; and calls for the Government and Government departments to work with Post Office Ltd to streamline the process and to publicise the card account."