Government launches the Post Office Green Paper, the first
comprehensive review of the Post Office in 15 years.
- First comprehensive review of the Post Office in 15 years,
with customers and postmasters shaping its future.
- Post Office Green Paper will seek to transform the
organisation's culture in the wake of the Horizon scandal and
changing customer demands.
- Better services at the heart of new £118 million subsidy to
fund the Post Office's Transformation Plan and further network
investment, moving the organisation closer to delivering growth
in line with the Plan for Change.
Postmasters and the public will have the opportunity to shape the
future of the Post Office for the first time in 15 years, as the
Government sets out its vision for the next decade for the
organisation.
The Post Office Green Paper, published today, will move further
and faster to deliver a decade of renewal for customers and
postmasters, building on the cultural reset being led by Post
Office Chair Nigel Railton that will be so crucial to its
success.
Working hand in hand with postmasters and the public the
Government will ensure the network is put on a path to a strong
and sustainable future with Post Office branches remaining at the
heart of communities across the UK.
This includes on the Post Office's ownership model, with concepts
including mutualisation on the table for consideration following
the publication of the final Horizon Inquiry report later this
year.
The report is expected to provide recommendations on improving
the structure of the Post Office so that this miscarriage of
justice is never allowed to occur again, protecting postmasters
whilst also providing reassurance for customers.
This follows an unprecedented period in which the Post Office has
faced a series of major challenges, from the Horizon IT scandal
to significant changes in consumer behaviour, such as a rise in
online shopping and falling demand for traditional post.
Post Office Minister said:
Post Offices continue to be a central part of our high streets
and communities across the country. However, after fifteen years
without a proper review, and in the aftermath of the Horizon
scandal, it's clear we need a fresh vision for its future.
This Green Paper marks the start of an honest conversation about
what people want and need from their Post Office in the years
ahead.
I look forward to hearing the views of customers, business owners
and postmasters so we can build a Post Office capable of serving
the public for generations to come.
The consultation will run for 12 weeks, closing on 6th October
2025. It will examine key areas including:
- How Post Office services should evolve to meet changing
consumer needs
- Ways to strengthen the relationship between the Post Office
and its postmasters
- Options for modernising the network while ensuring services
remain within local reach
- Ensure the Post Office is well-equipped to adapt to consumer
trends
- How the Post Office can improve and develop the banking
services it provides
Research published alongside the Green Paper today also
highlights the important role the Post Office still plays in the
daily lives of people and businesses, adding social value of
around £5.2 billion per year to households and £1.3 billion
annually to small and medium sized businesses.
As part of the Government's commitment to securing the future of
this vital national institution, Ministers have also announced
plans to award a new subsidy package of up to £118 million to
fund the Post Office's Transformation Plan and further investment
to improve the network.
This funding will protect key services, including access to cash
deposits and withdrawals as well as key government services, such
as passport applications and the DVLA, alongside helping the Post
Office deliver cost-saving measures in its Transformation Plan,
part of the New Deal for Postmasters.
Notes to editors:
- The Green Paper and details on how to respond to the
consultation can be found here.
- The £118 million in funding is subject to the completion of
subsidy control processes and compliance with the Subsidy Control
Act 2022.
- The Post Office operates over 11,500 branches across the UK.
- Last month, the Government achieved the milestone of £1
billion in compensation payments to over 7,300 postmasters
affected by the Horizon IT scandal.
- Research published alongside the Green Paper can be found
under Annex A: The Value of the Post Office Network
