What services it will seek to buy from the Post Office under Her Majesty's Government "Gateway" proposals approved by the Performance and I…

The Post Office and postal services are reserved matters. Ring-fenced funding has been set aside by the UK Government in the Spending Review for new investment over the next three years to start the implementation of the Performance and Innovation Unit report on the Post Office network. Included is provision for modernisation of the urban network.The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has stated that the UK Government will require the Post Office to maintain the rural network.Policy on the Universal Bank is reserved to the UK Government which supports universal banking services accessible at post offices as the best way forward for bringing those people who do not currently have bank accounts into the financial mainstream. The Post Office and the high street banks are working together to develop the concept of universal banking services and the Government is closely monitoring developments. The Government has made a firm commitment to contribute towards the costs of universal banking.The Scottish Executive will continue to work with the Scottish financial institutions and others, such as the credit union movement, to improve the choice and accessibility of appropriate financial products available to those on low incomes. The Scottish Executive will also look at delivery of online public services through post offices in due course alongside other options. The proposal to establish a fund to support post offices and their retail facilities in deprived urban areas is for England only. Under the Scottish Executive's Digital Government agenda, a target has been set to have 100% of public services available online by 2005. The Executive will wish to consider options for delivering these services with various partners e.g. post offices, banks and supermarkets.