The government is planning to make the Post Office reveal exact details regarding branches in its UK network.

The Post Office could be forced in the future to disclose the amount of branches it has across the country.

New moves by the government, in an amendment to the Postal Services Bill, means more "robust and transparent" information about the network of Post Offices in the UK will be published.

Details regarding the number, location and accessibility of Post Offices across the network will be required under the amendment.

It is hoped the publication of such information will highlight the rate of Post Office closures, with recent figures from the Royal Mail revealing the number of branches in the UK dropped from 14,292 to 10,324 since 2000.

Pat McFadden, minister for Postal Affairs, said the Post Office is "part of the fabric of this country" and "plays a vital commercial, public and social role".

He added: "We want transparent information about how accessible the network is, in particular to small businesses, rural communities, the elderly, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, to be published every year."

During April, the National Federation of SubPostmasters claimed the Post Office network in the UK could not survive any more closures.


Article Added: 06/05/2009 09:36:38