Mr. Pat Watt:

The challenge within the network, if we go back to the earlier conversation around digital migration which is only going to increase, is that with many of the services we are driving in, for example around agency banking, which is cash lodgements and withdrawals, there will be an impact on cash over the next four five years as it reduces. Therefore, we need more services to plug the gap but equally we need postmasters to be comfortable having the "and" conversation with you. It is not just about the transaction.

We must make sure they are comfortable bringing up those conversations up with their local community and in offering those products and services. There is a mixed bag in the level of confidence and the willingness to engage in that. We will try to work with them and help with that in the coming months to make sure we can build that confidence because that is the only way to grow the business. Equally, on agency banking, if you go to urban locations that might be benefiting from agency banking, they need to proactively reach out into that community and engage with the local manager of Ulster Bank, Bank of Ireland or wherever to make sure they capture that business coming in because once that business comes in, there is a cross-sale opportunity for the other products.