HC Deb 05 December 1990 vol 182 c124W
22. Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the Post Office letter monopoly.

Mr. Leigh

The Post Office's letter monopoly is a privilege, not a right. While we keep the options on the letter monopoly under review, we have no present plans to end it, although in the event of a cessation or serious disruption to the letter service we would consider suspending it. The Government and the Post Office remain fully committed to the existence of a national letter service available to everyone, including those in rural areas, at a reasonable and uniform tariff.