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06/04/2004
McNarry slams end of free 'services' parcel post to Iraq
Strangford Ulster Unionist MLA David McNarry has described the Post Office’s decision to end its free parcel post service to soldiers serving in Iraq as "obscene".
Mr McNarry, a former advisor to UUP leader David Trimble, has revealed that from Wednesday the Post Office will charge for parcels being sent to soldiers on active duty in Iraq.
He said that relatives of serving soldiers were extremely annoyed about this move, which he said was "a national obscenity".
"Being on active duty in Iraq is certainly no picnic for soldiers looking forward to receiving parcels from their loved ones at home. It is most unfair to introduce charges for what was previously a free service."
He said that this was an urgent matter for the Ministry of Defence and called on the MoD to "immediately rescind this decision".
“I do not believe the nation will approve of these charges,” he added.
(SP)
Mr McNarry, a former advisor to UUP leader David Trimble, has revealed that from Wednesday the Post Office will charge for parcels being sent to soldiers on active duty in Iraq.
He said that relatives of serving soldiers were extremely annoyed about this move, which he said was "a national obscenity".
"Being on active duty in Iraq is certainly no picnic for soldiers looking forward to receiving parcels from their loved ones at home. It is most unfair to introduce charges for what was previously a free service."
He said that this was an urgent matter for the Ministry of Defence and called on the MoD to "immediately rescind this decision".
“I do not believe the nation will approve of these charges,” he added.
(SP)
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Rural post offices in Northern Ireland are set to receive more than £6.9 million-a-year for the next three years, in the largest ever government support package for this vital community service. The money is part of a £450 million national fund to safeguard the future of thousands of rural post offices, which was unveiled by the government today.
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