Andrew Turner, the Island’s MP, has welcomed this afternoon’s announcement that the Government have cancelled their plans to remove the Post Office Card Account (POCA) from the Post Office Network.

The POCA is a simple account used by 4 million people to access state benefits and pensions. The Government had entered a tendering process which could have led to the contract being awarded to another company. This has now been cancelled and a new contract will be signed with the Post Office running for five years from 2010.

Nearly 3,000 Islanders have contacted Mr Turner about this issue, demanding that the card account be kept. Nearly 4 million people nationally use the accounts and the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters estimated that a further 3,000 post offices would have been forced to close if the contract had been lost – that is in addition to those already closed – 10 on the Island.

Mr Turner said:
“I am very glad the uncertainty over the future of the Post Office Card Account (POCA) has ended – although goodness knows how much this debacle has cost. Along with many other MPs I have been lobbying on behalf of my constituents, and thankfully we have finally persuaded the Government that this is the right thing to do.

“We now need to expand the range of services available through the account, such as allowing utility bills to be paid via direct debit. That would allow those on low incomes to access the same, lower rates as people who use bank accounts and help secure the future of the Post Office network. Some of those who depend on the POCA are on low incomes and among the most financially vulnerable of our citizens. I would like to thank everyone who has contacted me about this important issue. ”