Criticism over cheque contract

The Government has been criticised for deciding to move the contract for processing benefit cheques from the Post Office.

Campaigners and postmasters have warned that the move to give Citibank the contract to provide welfare cheques, using Paypoint branches, will lead to more Post Office closures.

The contract is thought to be worth around £20m a year. The Government said the decision was about getting "value for money".