West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has welcomed a Government commitment to invest an extra £640 million in the Post Office network. The Post Office has committed the cash over three years to help post offices modernise their premises, offer longer opening hours and offer more services to customers. The money will also be used to help support post offices which cannot be run profitably but which offer an essential service to the community, especially in rural areas. Harriett quizzed Postal Minister Jo Swinson on the announcement and welcomed the cash allocation. She said: “On behalf of my constituents in West Worcestershire I would like to thank the Minster for her statement today and ask will any of the money she is announcing today help the Post Office modernise the computer system for my sub-postmasters?” The Minister confirmed that she would look into the IT issues and promised to update Harriett in due course. Speaking later, Harriett added: “Many of my post offices are undergoing the process of change as they adapt to changing customer needs. “I am pleased that the money will underpin some of our more remote rural post offices which often are the last remaining shop in the village. “Recently I have had conversations with post office staff about the complexities of running a post office service and I was keen to urge the Minister to look again that the computer systems and ensure that they are fit-for-purpose. “I have worked with post office staff at a local and national level on behalf of Lower Broadheath, Martley, Great Witley and Alfrick to try and ensure local services are retained and I hope that we will be able to secure a postal service in Kempsey in the near future. “I have opened the new-look post office and store in Malvern Link last month and I know that this investment programme is already making a huge difference across the county. “I hope that it will give confidence to rural communities regarding the future of their own local post offices.” FULL TEXT: Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) (Con): Mr Speaker, have you ever heard a more grudging contribution from the Labour party, after the closure of 7,346 post offices? I thank the Minister on behalf of my constituents in West Worcestershire. Will any of the money that she has announced today help the Post Office to modernise its computer system for my sub-postmasters and, to reflect rural concerns, update the algorithm that allows post offices to hold cash ? Jo Swinson: I am happy to look in more detail at some of the specific technological issues that the hon. Lady raises. The money we are announcing today is for a continuation of the network subsidy for the three years and to invest in the future network transformation programme. Of course, we must ensure that the central IT systems, managing a network of nearly 12,000 retail outlets, are also fit for the 21st century. I will happily get back to her with further details. | Hansard