§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she was first informed that the Royal Mail would terminate their contract for deliveries of mail by rail with EWS from April 2004. [R][123772]
§ Mr. TimmsThe Department had been aware for some time that negotiations between Royal Mail and EWS were proving difficult. Royal Mail informed the Department on 2 June that while the final outcome was not yet settled, it expected to make an announcement about the termination of EWS rail services later in the week.
Negotiations between EWS and Royal Mail are a commercial matter for the companies concerned.
§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received on the transfer of Royal Mail deliveries from rail to road; and what model has been used for Royal Mail deliveries in its transfer. [R][123773]
§ Mr. TimmsThe Department has received a number of representations about Royal Mail's decision to withdraw from rail. These include the rail unions and the all party Rail Group.
Decisions about transport operations are a matter for the Royal Mail Board. Royal Mail has advised that its model is based on a model developed by New Zealand Post. This software was modified to meet Royal Mail's specific needs, including the potential use of rail transport as part of its network.
§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the impact of the Working Time Directive on delivery of mail by road from April 2004. [123822]
§ Mr. TimmsCompliance with the Working Time Directive is an operational matter for the Royal Mail Board. I understand that Royal Mail has fully assessed the impact of the Working Time Directive on its future transport network. Where necessary Royal Mail will take appropriate measures, such as trailer swaps, vehicle swaps and dual manning of vehicles, to ensure compliance.