Government Postal Minister Norman Lamb yesterday joined MP Harriett Baldwin praising the efforts of Alfrick villagers to re-start their postal services in the new community shop. The Minister said that a ‘fantastic community spirit’ was needed to deliver the project. During questions in the House of Commons, Harriett warned of local concerns that each of the 60 volunteers recruited to run the service might need to undergo criminal record checks before the post office can start operating. The Minister confirmed that he would look into the issue and agreed that ‘to ask every volunteer in the village to do a CRB check seems over the top’. The issue was raised by the community shop representatives during a meeting wioth Harriett and two senior Post Office directors. Harriett said: The system of CRB checks is expensive and time-consuming. I was encouraged by the response from the Post Office and the Minister who all seem to think that we can eliminate some of this excessive bureaucracy.” TEXT: Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) (Con): What recent progress he has made on securing the future of the Post Office network. [109150] The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Norman Lamb): 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: 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: 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. | Hansard