26 March 2001

ALAN JOHNSON CONFIRMS POST OFFICE PACKAGE ON TRACK

Government's programme to help public get the most from their post.

Post Office Minister Alan Johnson today confirmed the completion of the national roll-out of a £480m computerisation project which will make it easier and quicker for customers to pay bills and provide more services for users of the UK's 18,000 post offices.

Under the Government's 'Horizon' programme more than 40,000 interlinked counter computer terminals have now been installed in post offices, and 72,000 people trained in their use up and down the country.

Only a few hundred offices where there are particular technical and other problems remain to be connected. 

Alan Johnson said:
"Local post offices are at the heart of communities up and down the country and are deeply appreciated by the 28 million people who use their services each week."

"The new Horizon system will provide a better, more efficient service to customers, and provide the platform for new services and the extension of network banking. This will be of particular help to rural communities - ensuring even very small post office branches and village halls in remote locations can use the same high technology to deliver top quality service." Mr Johnson will also visit Leicester on Tuesday to see the first post office taking part in a trial project in which customers can use 'Start Here' - an easy to use, touch-screen kiosk which gives access to information ranging from advice on benefits, health and education to information on housing, care and crime."

This trial will test the type of information, advice and services citizens would like to see in their local post office, helping the development of a wider pilot of the Government General Practitioner (GGP) scheme later this year into which the DTI is investing £25 million.

Alan Johnson continued:
"Last year's PIU report made clear that the Post Office needs to expand and modernise its services. Following the completion of Horizon we are now moving ahead with the Government General Practitioners (GGP) initiative, helping their customers to access useful public information both electronically and face to face, in accordance with one of the main PIU recommendations."

"The Government wants to make electronic service available to everyone - especially those who do not have on-line access in their homes, and continue to utilise the potential of the post office network across the country, building a network that can thrive, not just survive."

"This idea came directly from the NFSP and we will be working closely with the Post Office and the Federation to ensure its success".

Notes to Editors:

1. Transactions worth £150 billion a year will go through the Horizon system as its use extends across all applications.

2. Horizon's 21st century technology has been installed throughout the network ranging from modern premises to listed historic buildings.