3000 post offices to be ‘saved’

Work and pensions secretary James Purnell has been credited with saving 3000 post offices by abandoning plans to offer a £1bn benefits contract to the private sector, said the Guardian. Purnell told the House of Commons that he was going to allow the Post Office to continue providing the service because of the "exceptional" circumstances of the global economic crisis. The account generates £200m of income per year, which Purnell called "a key part of the Post Office's income", as well as bringing in custom.