§ Sir David Steel (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale)I have the honour to present a petition to the House signed by more than 4,000 constituents in the rural areas of Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale.
To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled.The Humble petition of the undersigned Residents of Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale sheweth that we express deep concern that the Government propose to privatise post office services and compulsorily transfer Social Security payments from post offices to banks, and we oppose these measures jointly and severally as they threaten the very survival of sub post offices and deny the efficiency and convenience of the present system, especially in rural areas.Wherefore your petitioners pray that your Honourable House will do everything possible to impress upon the Secretaries of State for Trade and Industry and Social Security the need for an autonomous post office service in the public sector and to abandon plans for the transfer of social security payments to banks.And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.
§ To lie upon the Table.