The Government plan to stop benefits and pensions being paid through sub-post offices, putting the future of the businesses at risk, is a cause for genuine concern. The amount of anxiety about it can perhaps be gauged from the fact that the Bradford branch secretary of the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters collected more than 1,400 signatures from his Menston Sub-Post Office alone for a petition opposing it.

When members of the federation travel to London tomorrow to lobby Ministers, they will be expressing fears not only for their own livelihoods but also on behalf of the communities of which they are a key part.

In many places life can revolve around the local post office, which often doubles as off-licence, newsagent and general store. If the post office side of the business was to be lost and consequently it was no longer viable, it would leave a whole community without any local retailer to help to fill the needs of those who find it difficult to travel to the nearest supermarket because they don't have their own transport. At a time when traditional community life is under threat, a facility such as a post office surely needs every encouragement to keep going.

Forcing people to have their pensions or benefits paid into a bank or building society is a thoughtless policy on several counts - not least because it comes at a time when some banks are closing local branches. It surely adds insult to injury to make those on already low incomes spend some of it on fares into town to collect their payments.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.