One-stop office is reply to rural France’s fears

The aim is to have around 2,000 offices at a maximum of 30 minutes’ drive for users.

These Maisons France Ser­vices are an attempt to reply to the many calls to President Macron to improve rural services during the Great Debate earlier this year.

They are a step up from the existing Maisons de Services au Public which are in 1,340 communes. Extra offices will be opened and existing ones upgraded to contain a minimum level of service, giving contact with 10 official departments.

This will include the family benefits service CAF, the prefecture for civil administrative needs, justice and work ministries, tax, pensions, employment office and La Poste.

Territorial Cohesion Minister Jacqueline Gourault said a budget of €230million had been set aside to fund staffing for the project until 2022.

Other services, such as SNCF, may also set up in the offices, with energy firm GRDF already involved in the Maisons de Services au Public.

Ms Gourault said the offices were a response to the early calls of gilets jaunes protestors who spoke of rural isolation.

However, some commentators have warned it would be hard for staff in the offices to offer real help where full knowledge of regulations is needed.