§ Mr. HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he gave any indication to the Post Office on or before 16 March as to when his Department believed that the letters to airport authorities and Pan American Airlines had been posted; and what representations he made to the Post Office in relation to the Post Office's plans to make a statement refuting allegations that the letters had been lost;
(2) what contact took place between the Post Office and his Department on matters relating to the letter he sent to airport authorities and Pan American Airlines warning them of the threatened bomb attack in the week beginning 12 March; and what assurances were sought by, or given to, the Post Office by his Department on whether a statement would be made on 16 March by his Department on this matter.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomley[holding answer 23 March 1989]: Post Office officials were in touch with those of the Department during the afternoon and evening of 16 March. We made it clear that the circular dated 19 December had not been posted until later and that the Department had no complaints about the way the Post Office had handled it. My right hon. Friend said so that afternoon.