Commenting on the announcement that the Government is to launch a public consultation on expanding the role of local post offices in the provision of banking services, local MP Malcolm Bruce said: “The announcement that the Government is to explore the possibility of extending banking services is too little too late for those local communities who have already been the victim of the Government’s most recent cull of the rural post office network.

“Further closures would be disastrous for many Aberdeenshire communities and the Government needs to ensure that Post Offices have the services and the financial support not just to survive but to thrive in the future.Malcolm Bruce MP: Gordon

“This consultation process needs to address concerns about how much money would be generated for the Post Office Network itself and if this might be better addressed by the formation of a separate PostBank entity.