We welcome the Government’s proposals announced today to expand the remit of the Post Office to include banking and other financial services.

 29th September 2009

We welcome the recent report of the Public Accounts Committee on the operation of the Government’s Warm Front Scheme.

 3rd August 2009

‘Rural Money Matters: A Support Guide to Rural Financial Inclusion’ is designed to help local authorities and their local strategic partnership members understand, identify and tackle financial exclusion in rural areas.

 30th June 2009

We welcome the 'Post Bank' Coalition's call for developments for Post Offices to provide banking services. This is particularly important for rural areas in England where an estimated 300,000 people do not have a bank account.

 18th March 2009

We've responded to DCSF's consultation ‘Ending Child Poverty: Making it Happen’ on legislative proposals prior to the introduction of a child poverty Bill in 2009. The Government wants to provide children and young people with the best start in life and break cycles of deprivation for good. The Government's ambitious pledge in 1999 to end child poverty by 2020 has already led to 600,000 fewer children in poverty in the UK. While good progress has been made, 2.9 million children...

 16th March 2009

The FSA are looking to work in partnership with organisations in the North East and North West of England on a pilot money guidance Pathfinder programme to promote financial capability in rural areas.

 12th February 2009

We support Lord Mandelson’s proposal for local post offices to broaden services and enhance their role as the financial hub for their communities. Limited financial services in rural areas hit the most vulnerable people more.

 2nd February 2009

We're pleased that Norman Lamb, MP for North Norfolk has highlighted the issue of rural fuel poverty at the highest levels of government.

 2nd February 2009

We're visiting the Ribble Valley in Lancashire to see work underway to tackle fuel poverty in rural communities. Richard Burge, one of our Commissioners, will visit projects and meet representatives from local authorities and other bodies working to address rural fuel poverty.

 26th November 2008

The Government’s call for suppliers to reflect lower fuel costs in consumers' bills is a welcome step in helping tackle fuel poverty. High fuel prices hit rural areas hardest, particularly in lower-income households, where 50% of income goes on essentials including fuel costs.

 28th October 2008