Mr. Michael Fosythasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what use his Department makes of the private sector for the movement of parcels, packages, documents and letters; and if he will estimate the proportion of his Department's mail handled in this way.
§ Sir Keith JosephThe private sector is used by the Department where this is found to be cost effective. Of the Department's mail which is handled by the Post Office, British Rail and private sector firms, about 1.5 per cent, in cost terms currently goes through the private sector.
80WHowever, the costs of competing mail services are continuously monitored with a view to using the most cost-effective means available for the material involved.