HC Deb 27 October 1994 vol 248 cc782-3W
Mr. Llwyd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will conduct a survey into the extra implications for vehicular traffic of closure of post offices.

Mr. Charles Wardle

There are no plans to close post offices. Such a survey would, therefore, be unnecessary.

Mr. Hain

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the current salary of the secretary of the Post Office board; what was the salary of Miss Morag Macdonald, former secretary of the Post Office board; and in what circumstances, and under what settlement, Miss Morag Macdonald left the Post Office board.

Mr. Eggar

Miss Macdonald has chosen to take a career break from the Post Office for further education purposes. As an employee of the Post Office both her salary and that of the new secretary of the board are the responsibility of the Post Office.

Mr. Hain

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library a copy of the recent report by the Post Office's corporate planning department on exclusive access by the Royal Mail to Post Office Counters.

Mr. Eggar

No.

Mr. Hain

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the implications of European competition law for continued exclusive access by Royal Mail and Parcelforce to Post Office Counters following privatisation.

Mr. Eggar

We have considered the implications of European competition law for the access arrangements. Such issues have arisen on many occasions in the past and have been satisfactorily resolved. They will be fully dealt with in any proposals for the future of the three Post Office businesses.

Mr. Hain

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received regarding Bridgegate Engineering and the Post Office in the last two months.

Mr. Eggar

[holding answer 26 October 1994]: Complaints of a commercial nature by Bridgegate Engineering against the Post Office have been brought to the notice of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, and are receiving serious attention. These are operational matters for the Post Office and I am assured that they have been considered at the very highest levels. It is my understanding that detailed discussions are in progress between lawyers acting for Bridgegate Engineering and the Post Office, who hope that a satisfactory outcome for all concerned will soon be achieved.