Euro-MP Fights for Local Post Offices

12.00.00am GMT Tue 20th Nov 2001

Diana Wallis MEP and her Liberal Democrat colleagues in the European Parliament are today calling for special provisions to be added to EU proposals to liberalise postal services to safeguard the future of local post offices throughout Yorkshire.

Tabling amendments to a report before her Legal Affairs Committee, Diana Wallis is pushing for minimum requirements on the geographical concentration of post offices to be set by national authorities rather than the EU, so that rural services are protected.

"Post Offices are an essential part of community life in town centres and in small villages across the whole of Yorkshire," Diana commented ahead of her committee meeting this afternoon. "I am pushing for measures that will help safeguard Post Offices and postal services, particularly in rural areas, in the future."

The report before the Committee concerns increasing competition in community postal services. Diana's amendments also seek to prevent the prospect of a price hike in the cost of stamps which might materialise after liberalisation of postal services, by asking for national governments to be able to impose a lower rate of VAT.

"Even in this digital age where more and more people are using email, a letter remains the most personal form of communication," said Diana. "It is vital that we keep the cost down for one of the oldest forms of communication."