The Government is safeguarding its plans for the 18,500 post offices to become one stop government shops by providing funding to help with the costs of relocating and refurbishing rural post offices. The money will help support initiatives by volunteer or community groups to maintain or re-open post office facilities in areas where the traditional post office is closing. It could help in establishing up to 200 community post offices in the UK.In a further move within the Post Office, a new senior role will be created to oversee the network’s interests and look at the options and alternative solutions for avoiding rural closures.

Read more on SAFEGUARDING ONE STOP GOVERNMENT SHOPS…

A new attack has been launched on benefit fraud which is running at 1.3 billion pounds annually. This is 8.4 per cent of expenditure and represents 80 pounds for each UK household.The latest weapon to be brought into the campaign is a series of three 40-second TV commercials. They portray typical examples of fraud such as a dole cheat earning cash in hand whilst claiming benefit and playing on the sympathy of friends to cadge free drinks.

Read more on RENEWED ATTACK ON BENEFIT FRAUD…