§ LORD SLATERMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what proposals have been sent on to the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications by the Post Office Board to offset the losses incurred, in the providing of postal services; and what consultations have taken place with the Post Office Users' Council on any such proposals and what has been the Council's reaction.]
§ LORD DENHAMNone, my Lords.
§ LORD SLATERMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that during the recent dispute much publicity was given to the alleged losses incurred, and would be not agree that such estimates were out of line, due to the more frequent use of the telecommunications section? Secondly, what effect had this dispute on the mechanisation of the sorting programme? Finally, is the 'noble Lord in a position to state the number of services for which the postal section of the Post Office are responsible on behalf of the general public?
§ LORD DENHAMMy Lords, it has been suggested that the estimated net loss to the Post Office of £27 million should be nearer £20 million because of the additional profits on the telecommunications service. As to any reduction in services provided by the Post Office, this, of course, is a matter for the Post Office; and if they come to any such conclusion they would first consult the Post Office Users' National Council and, of course, seek the approval of my right honourable friend.
§ LORD SLATERMy Lords, I am quite aware that the Users' Council have to be consulted in regard to the operation of the Post Office services. But would not the noble Lord agree, in view of the statement of the Minister for Posts and Telecommunications which appears in Hansard for March 15, that the Minister has had quite a number of conversations—those are his words—with the Post Office Board in regard to the operations of the Post Office?
§ LORD DENHAMMy Lords, my right honourable friend has had discussions with the Post Office Board, but these have been of a general character and no firm proposals have been put forward to my right honourable friend by the Board.
§ BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOEMy Lords, since the Minister is able to by-pass the Board unless there is a Chairman of the Board, can the noble Lord tell us when there is any possibility of a new Chairman being appointed?
§ LORD DENHAMNo, my Lords, I cannot give your Lordships that information at the moment.
§ LORD SLATERMy Lords, is the noble Lord not aware that this is rather unfortunate? After all, the Post Office Board as set up makes provision for not only a Chairman but two Vice-Chairmen, and to date we have heard of only one Vice-Chairman, Mr. Ryland, taking the initiative and acting on behalf of the Post Office; and the second Vice-Chairman has never been heard of at all.
§ LORD DENHAMMy Lords, this is rather wide of the original Question, but I am sure my right honourable friend will take note of what the noble Lord, Lord Slitter, has said.