Local Post Offices received a boost today as the Labour Government awarded the contract for the Post Office Card Account (POCA) service to the Post Office. This announcement is good news for the Post Office as the card account is an important source of income and brings customers through the doors of post offices across the country. The National Federation of Sub Post Masters had said that, without POCA 3,000 Post Offices would close.

The Government had announced in December 2006 that allowed private firms to bid for the Post Office Card Account contract. However, in order to support the Post Office network the Labour Government has decided to cancel the current procurement exercise and allow the Post Office to continue to provide the Post Office Account Card Service.

The news will be welcomed by local post offices in West Ham who rely on the business that people picking up their pensions or benefits through the Post Office Card Account brings into branches. Around 6420 people in West Ham have a Post Office Card Account

Welcoming the news Lyn Brown MP thanked local people for campaigning with her on the issue:

“I’m delighted that the Government has taken this decision to award the contract for the Post Office Card Account service to the Post Office. This move shows that the Labour Government is prepared to support our Post Offices in West Ham and up and down the country.

I’m pleased that the campaigners who have been fighting hard for their local post office services have been listened to”.

Labour’s Secretary of State for Work and Pensions James Purnell paid tribute to Lyn Brown MP for campaigning on this issue saying:

“I applaud Lyn Brown for standing up for people in West Ham and her local post offices. I know how important post offices are to local communities and this provides real help for these local businesses and their customers in tough times.”