To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Post Office to ensure cash withdrawal machines on their property do not charge for cash withdrawals. [HL1665]

Post Office Ltd is implementing a programme to install up to 4,000 free-to-use ATMs at Crown and sub-post offices across the country. As at 31 January 2009 Post Office Ltd had installed 1,545 ATMs, of which 932 are located on the outside of branches thus allowing for access 24 hours a day.

Where it is not viable to install a free-to-use ATM, subpostmasters, in their capacity as independent businesspeople, are able to enter into an agreement with an ATM supplier for either a free-to-use or surcharge ATM. There will be no charge for withdrawals at ATMs in directly managed Crown post offices.