153.This section will allow the Secretary of State to make a scheme for payments for the purpose of assisting in the provision of public post offices or assisting in the provision of services to be provided from public post offices. Where the payments are made for services, they must ultimately assist in the provision of public post offices.
154.The Secretary of State must set the terms of the scheme, but may specify another person to make the payments. If that person is a statutory body or an office holder the Secretary of State has power to alter their statutory functions to allow them to undertake functions under any scheme set up under this section.