§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he intends to remove the carriage of 37W parcels by the Post Office from the scrutiny of the Post Office Users National Council; and, if so, whether he will set out his reasons.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerMy right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so.
§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether, in view of the statement in Post Office Users National Council report No. 24 that National Giro would like to see some postal order business transferred to the Giro in-payment service, he will arrange for both services to remain within the scrutiny of the Post Office Users National Council in order that customers changing to the in-payment service will not lose the opportunity of taking any subsequent complaint to the council.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerAs report No. 24 of the Post Office Users National Council made clear, the Post Office's plans with regard to the future of the postal order service are still under review.
My right hon. Friend made it plain in the debate on the second reading of the British Telecommunications Bill that he intended to use his power to exclude from the scrutiny of the Post Office Users National Council the banking services of the Post Office provided by the National Girobank. All these services including the in-payment service already face competition. That remains the position.