§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the criteria which the United Kingdom and United States of America Governments use in tendering for the contracts to transport post in each direction between the United Kingdom and the United States of America. [72882]
§ Mr. Ian McCartneyWithin the United Kingdom it is the Post Office rather than the Government that has responsibility for postal operational matters such as the tendering for contracts to transport mail. Contracts are awarded by the Post Office, in accordance with public procurement regulations, based on the most economically advantageous tenderer against a range of criteria which may vary from one route to another including, but not limited to, the ability by an airline to serve the destination; carry the weight of traffic tendered; achieve required handover time; service quality; price; and acceptance of Post Office terms and conditions. I am advised by the Post Office that routes are normally tendered annually or bi-annually.
I am unable to comment on the detail of procurement procedures that are applicable to the operations of the postal administration of the United States of America.