§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if responsibility for the Pathway project will be vested in the Post Office under his proposals for the future of the Post Office. [63702]
§ Mr. Ian McCartneyThis project to automate the payment of social security benefit payments and a range of other services at post offices is being undertaken jointly by the Benefits Agency and Post Office Counters Ltd. under the Private Finance Initiative, with ICL Pathway as the private sector partner.
The proposals announced by my right hon. Friend on 7 December 1998, Official Report, columns 21–24, on the future of the Post Office do not affect existing responsibilities for this project.