§ Miss HoeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what calculations have been made as to the effect of any plans to break up the exclusive privilege of Royal Mail to deliver items on(a) cost and frequency of delivery to rural households, (b) cost and frequency of delivery to businesses in rural and regional areas outside London arid city centres and (c) the number of postal workers employed by the Royal Mail in rural and regional delivery services.
§ Mr. ForthWe keep the options under review, but have no plans to end the letter monopoly at present. However, we have made it clear that the Post Office's monopoly is a privilege, not a right, and in the event of a cessation or serious disruption of the letter service, we would consider suspending it. I should add, however, that we attach considerable importance to the maintenance of the rural delivery network.