§ Mr. BowisTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any plans to seek to end the Post Office monopoly of letter delivery.
§ Mr. ForthWe have made it clear that the Post Office's monopoly over the conveyance of letters priced at below £1 is a privilege not a right. We keep the monopoly under review and have said that in the event of cessation or serious decline in the quality of the letter service, we would consider seriously suspending the monopoly. I have, however, no present plans to do so.