Post Office (Hansard, 14 July 1993)

§ Mr. Barry Field
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what powers he has to review a decision by the Post Office for the award of an agency contract.

§ Mr. McLoughlin
My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has no specific powers to direct the Post Office on the award of individual agency contracts. Since the Post Office became a public corporation in 1969, it has been the policy of successive Governments that matters relating to the day to running of the Post Office are the responsibility of the Post Office Board.

§ Mr. Barry Field
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what standards his Department lays down for the award of agency contracts by the Post Office.

§ Mr. McLoughlin
My Department does not lay down standards for the award of agency contracts for sub-post offices as this is a commercial and operational matter for the Post Office.

§ Mr. Barry Field
To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many agency Post Office contracts have been awarded to senior Post Office staff for the period for which records are available.

§ Mr. McLoughlin
Of the 617 directly operated post offices converted to agencies between April 1989 and May 1993, 189 have been awarded to former Post Office employees. The Post Office keeps no separate records of awards by grade nor of unsuccessful applications by its employees, but the number of senior personnel involved is thought to be very small.

§ Mr. Barry Field
To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many complaints there have been about the award of agency contracts by the Post Office.

§ Mr. McLoughlin
My Department has in recent years received representations in two previous cases about the award of agency contracts.
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§ Mr. Barry Field
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the remedies available for a review of a decision by the Post Office.

§ Mr. McLoughlin
Other than the general remedies provided under the law, there is no specific right of appeal against non-appointment to an agency contract which is a commercial matter for the Post Office. Customers who have unresolved complaints about Post Office services may approach the Post Office Users' National Council.

§ Mr. Barry Field
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the criteria used by the Post Office for the award of contracts to senior staff.

§ Mr. McLoughlin
No. This is a matter for the Post Office in the day-to-day management of its business. The basic principle followed by the Post Office in the award of all contracts to run agency post offices is to appoint the most suitable candidate in order to provide high-quality services to its customers and clients and to safeguard Post Office assets.

§ Mr. Barry Field
To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many agency contracts for post offices on the Isle of Wight have been awarded to senior Post Office personnel.

§ Mr. McLoughlin
One.

§ Mr. Barry Field
To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last visited Ventnor post office; and when he next intends to do so.

§ Mr. McLoughlin
My right hon. Friend the President of the Boad of Trade has not visited Ventnor post office and has no plans to do so.