Post office closures...

Tosh · December 11, 2006

If, as seems to be the case, the Govt cuts the Post Office subsidy such that 1000's of Post Offices close, what are your thoughts?

I am generally a free marketeer about stuff but also think that Govt should be in the business of making sure all it's citizens have access to "public goods" and promoting community - seemingly important in rural areas to stop people driving to the nearest out-of-town shopping centre.

So closing sub-post offices on the basis of it costing £170m a year I find difficult to reconcile. If they aren't being used, shut'em. If the result is more old folk not getting out/not claiming their pension/taking additional risks on buses/cars/mileage etc... what's the "hidden" cost? Is it close to £170m.

Which then leads me to wonder.... is there somewhere that a P&L account and balance sheet for UK inc is published? I can't help wonder where all the damn money goes.... OK, we pay less income tax than in most places, but higher indirect taxes. Where does all the money go such that the Government decides it won't stump up the cash to... for example keep the post offices open, or pay hospital cleaners better or whatever.

fyds · December 11, 2006

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