FANTASTIC RESPONSE TO SUBPOSTMASTERS' CAMPAIGN FOR CARD ACCOUNT CONTRACT

10.29.51pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 5th Jul 2008

Borders MP Michael Moore has spoken of the fantastic response there has been to the National Federation of Subpostmasters campaign to win the contract for the new Card Account.

4.3 million people use the card account in the UK, which was brought in when the Government decided that all pensions and benefits had to be paid into a bank account. Those using the account now face further change, with the contract for the replacement account soon to be awarded by Ministers.

In just a few weeks, Mr Moore has received 1,000 postcards from people across the Borders calling upon the Government to award the new contract to the Post Office. Mr Moore, who fully backs the Subpostmasters' campaign, said:

"I am delighted that this campaign has attracted so much local support, as I believe it is essential that the Post Office is awarded this contract.

"Local people must have straightforward and easy access to their account. It is clear to me - and to the thousands of local people who support the campaign - that only the Post Office has a network which will allow this to happen in the Borders."

7,000 people in the Borders use the Post Office Card Account to collect their benefits or state pension. Mr Moore continued:

"The strength of public feeling about the prospect of more change to how people get their pensions and benefits has been made very clear by this response. I sincerely hope that the Government listens to what people are saying on this issue.

"The contract for the new Card Account is worth around one billion pounds to the Post Office network. This would play a major role in helping to support our rural post offices."