§ Mr. Michael Forsythasked the Secretary of State for Employment what use his Department makes of the private sector for the movement of parcels, packages, documents and letters; and if he will estimate the proportion of his Department's mail handled in this way.
§ Mr. GummerThis Department uses the Post Office, the PSA interdepartmental van services and its own van/car services for the movement of parcels, packages, documents and letters; there are occasions when it is both practical and cost-effective to use the services provided by British Rail—Red Star—and also the private sector, for example, National Carriers and Securicor parcels services. In the financial year ended 31 March 1983 the Department spent £6,770,558 on the movement of all material ane of this, £1,713.98 was spent in the private sector.
This proportion has increased in the current financial year, when in the first six months £1,551 has been spent in the private sector.
The Department keeps its choice of postal methods under continuous review so that the most cost-effective service, whether provided by the public or the private sector, can be used on each occasion.