UKGI00007712 - Letter from Margot James MP to Jeremy Hunt MP RE: Suspension of Farncombe village’s SPM following Post Office audit in January 2018 - REF MCB2017/29717/kw

Evidence on official site

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Fo Margot James MP

Department for Business, Energy &

Department for reread
Business, Energy Lonéon

& Industrial Strategy

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w

The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP

House of Commons Our ref: MCB2017/29717/kw

London

SW1A 0AA January 2018

Thank you for your correspondence of 12 December 2017 to the Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, on
behalf of your constituent, Ms Eleanor Shaikh of,
regarding the suspension of Farncombe village’s sub-postmaster following a Post Office audit
in October 2017. I am replying as this matter falls within my Ministerial portfolio.

The Government recognises the important role that the Post Office plays in Farncombe and in
communities across the UK. This is why the Government committed in its manifesto to
safeguard the Post Office network. Since 2010, the number of branches in the network has
been at its most stable for decades due to the significant investment that has been made to
maintain and protect it. This investment has delivered the refreshed customer environments,
increased opening hours and the efficiency of operation which is needed to succeed in the
competitive and changing markets in which the Post Office operates.

I should explain that the Government sets the parameters in which Post Office operates —
including its geographic reach and the key services it offers — and then allows the Post Office
to operate as an independent commercial organisation within those parameters. As such, we
do not play a direct role in day-to-day responsibilities of the company, and this will include
matters concerning the investigation and suspension of subpostmasters.

I understand that the Post Office wrote to you on 14 December 2017 regarding this matter and
that they are working hard to resolve the pending issue with the local subpostmaster and to
restore Postal services for the Farncombe community. The Post Office have also assured me
that they are confident that their Horizon system is robust and reliable. It is used by over
11,600 branches for numerous services every day, and has been for a number of years. It is
right that the Post Office should investigate these sorts of instances thoroughly given it is
charged with overseeing substantial amounts of public and third party funds. Whilst
investigations are continuing in to this case it would be inappropriate for me to comment any
further at this stage.
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Thank you again for taking the time to write.

MARGOT JAMES MP
Minister for Small Business, Consumers & Corporate Responsibility