Subpostmasters have repeated the call for additional government services to be run through the Post Office network.

Ahead of the National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP) annual conference next week (May 21), general secretary George Thomson urged the government to allow the network to offer more services.

“The time has come for this coalition government to stop talking and start delivering new work and contracts for our members, such as the forthcoming DVLA contract, which will build on the solid foundation created by the transformation programme,” he said. “The post office is perfectly placed to become a physical interface between all levels of government and the public, generating more work for subpostmasters and saving money for national and local government.”

Thomson also praised the Network Transformation Programme that is about to be rolled out to 2,000 branches. “There is no doubt that the transformation and funding package, which we have fought hard for, will create a more sustainable post office network,” he added. “Without the funding, the network would change anyway through subpostmasters being forced to hand in their keys resulting in unplanned closures.”

The NFSP annual conference will be attended by Postal Affairs Minister Norman Lamb, who is expected to be urged to award the Post Office the £450m DVLA contract. Post Office Limited chief executive Paula Vennell will also be a keynote speaker at the conference.