Potential closure of Caernarfon Post Office

That this House expresses deep concern over the potential closure of Caernarfon Post Office, as part of the organisation’s cost-cutting plan to shut directly owned Crown branches; regrets that the needs of customers and staff are being overlooked at a time when the Post Office should be working to restore trust and public confidence; acknowledges that a petition calling for the retention of over-the-counter services in Caernarfon has received considerable support from local residents and businesses; notes that such rural branches serve a wide area, and that travelling further afield can be difficult due to the lack of public transport infrastructure; recognises the over-the-counter services provided by the Caernarfon branch are essential in the context of high levels of digital exclusion and the closure of other face-to-face services including high street banking; further notes the crucial provision of Welsh-medium services by the branch in Caernarfon, which is a predominantly Welsh-speaking community; and urges the UK Government to compel the rethink of planned closures to ensure individuals in rural areas do not lose access to vital Post Office services.