People must be free to choose alternative to Post Office Card account - Alexander

1.04.03pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 24th Oct 2006

Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions Spokesperson, Danny Alexander MP, has demanded that people are not forced to switch from their Post Office card accounts after 2010, following the Government's announcement that it wants a 'multiple choice' replacement for the card account.

Mr Alexander said:

"While it is welcome that ministers have finally woken up to the need to replace the card account with a Post Office based alternative, the idea of having so many options raises many more questions.

"Most importantly, it is not at all clear that people will be free to choose to continue with their card account after 2010 without facing a further barrage of pressure from the Government to change. The Government must give more detail about the range of options and assurances about how free people will be to choose.

"The Government must provide the investment to ensure that there is still a Post Office network across the country in 2010."