Graham presses Transport Secretary to keep vital services at the Post Office

Graham has pressed the Transport Secretary to ensure that Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) services remain available at local Post Offices.

Graham took action after hundreds of constituents contacted him to voice their concern that services may be lost.

The DVLA contract with the Post Office is due to end in March 2013, and a competitive tendering process is being conducted by the Department for Transport to find the best deal for the public. The announcement of a new contract is expected in the near future.

Graham said, “I told the Secretary of State that as an MP for a rural constituency containing lots of small communities, I know just how much of a lifeline the Post Office is. Post Offices are an essential part of country life and one of the central community meeting points that we simply cannot afford to lose.  People rely on their local post office for a whole range of services.  Some people don’t have access to the internet or don’t want to buy their car tax or renew their driving licence on-line; they should be able to have that choice.

“The good news is that I have been reassured by the Minister that the award of the new contract will not be made purely on grounds of cost, but on the quality of the overall service provided. In that respect I think that there is a very strong case for the Post Office to continue providing these services.”