§ Mr. HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made by the Post Office in the implementation of the recommendations made in the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report on the Post Office's procurement activities.
§ Mr. ForthThe Monopolies and Mergers Commission reported on the Post Office's procurement activities in October 1986. The Post Office's initial response, produced in January 1987, partially rejected one and accepted the remainder of the report's 49 recommendations. A report on progress to October 1987 was placed in the Library in December 1987. Nearly half the MMC's recommendations had been implemented by that time.
I have now received the Post Office's report on progress to October 1989, which I am placing in the Libraries. It indicates that considerable further progress has been made and all but one of the recommendations (relating to the introduction of productivity schemes in supplies department depots) have now been implemented. My Department will continue to monitor the Post Office's progress in implementing this recommendation.