§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on those activities of Parcelforce which he regards as part of the universal service obligation and those activities outside it.
§ Mr. Leigh[holding answer 24 November 1992]: The definition of the universal service obligation for parcels forms part of our examination of the method and timing of sale of Parcelforce. As the President of the Board of Trade said in his statement to the House on 15 July—the provision of a universal service at a uniform and affordable tariff is not negotiable.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the representations he has received on the sale of Parcelforce.
§ Mr. Leigh[holding answer 24 November 1992]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I provided on 18 November at column 226, in respect of representations received on the Post Office. Most of the discussions that have already been held with the bodies listed therein have also covered the privatisation of Parcelforce. Additionally, our advisers have been contacting other players in the industry, on a confidential basis, for their views.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the year-end size of loans outstanding from the Post Office group to Parcelforce in each of the last five complete financial years.
§ Mr. Leigh[holding answer 24 November 1992]: Details of loans from the Post Office to Parcelforce are publicly available for the years 1990–91 and 1991–92. These loans were £44 million and £147 million at year end 1990–91 and 1991–92 respectively, as disclosed in the Post Office report and accounts for 1991–92. In previous years the accounts of Parcelforce and the Royal Mail were presented together; figures for year end loans to Parcelforce alone are therefore not available for those years.