§ Mr. Michael Forsythasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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.
§ Mr. ButcherMy Department makes limited use of the private sector for mail deliveries, currently amounting to about 2 per cent, of our total external costs for mail services. As a Department we are continuously examining any areas where the private sector might offer a practical and more cost effective alternative.