§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many individual consumers and how many consumer organisations were consulted prior to his statement on Post Office service cuts on Wednesday 16 July.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallMy right hon. Friend made no statement on Post Office Service cuts on 16 July. Prior to his statement on the postal monopoly six consumer organisations were consulted, as were about 30 of the largest users of the postal services. The statement also took account of a large number of representations received from individual postal customers both direct and through members of Parliament in the period since 3 May 1979.
§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many representatives of industry were consulted prior to his statement on the Post Office Service cuts on Wednesday 16 July.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallMy right hon. Friend made no statement on Post Office cuts on 16 July. In all the areas where he announced that private enterprise would be permitted to compete, the Post Office will continue to provide a service.
A wide range of organisations representative of industry and commerce was consulted prior to the statement.
§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many trade union representatives were consulted prior to his statement on Post Office Service cuts on Wednesday 16 July.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallMy right hon. Friend made no statement on Post Office Service cuts on 16 July. In all the areas where he announced that private enterprise would be permitted to compete, the Post Office will continue to provide a service. All trade unions with representatives in the postal service were consulted, either individually or through the Council of Post Office Unions.
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§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the estimated loss per annum of revenue arising from the proposals to remove certain services from the Post Office, including delivery of Christmas cards by charities.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallNo services will be removed from the Post Office, only its exclusive privilege in providing them. There is no way of estimating the loss of revenue arising from these proposals as that will depend on how well the Post Office responds to competition.