Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Harriett Baldwin Excerpts
Thursday 24th May 2012

(12 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Mark Prisk Portrait Mr Prisk
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I knew it was going too well. The important point is to make sure that the work force are flexible and working together. I am very happy to work with the trade unions when we are bidding for British jobs.

Harriett Baldwin Portrait Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) (Con)
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4. What recent progress he has made on securing the future of the Post Office network.

Norman Lamb Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Norman Lamb)
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Significant progress has been made on securing the future of the post office network. In particular, Post Office Ltd has become an independent company, with its own strengthened board; signed a long-term agreement with Royal Mail, cementing their commercial relationship for the next 10 years; won new contracts from central and local government; and achieved greater network stability, with net closures of just two post offices in the year to March 2012, which is the lowest figure for 25 years.

Harriett Baldwin Portrait Harriett Baldwin
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Will the Minister congratulate villagers from Alfrick in my constituency, who have raised £60,000 in a community share offering and found 60 volunteers to reopen the community post office? However, does he agree that asking each of those 60 pillars of their community to go through a Criminal Records Bureau check is a little excessive?

Norman Lamb Portrait Norman Lamb
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I absolutely congratulate the villagers who have managed to achieve that. I have seen a similar story in Norfolk, and it is a fantastic community spirit that manages to achieve that. I tend to agree that asking every volunteer in the village to undergo a CRB check seems over the top.