§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy that postal deliveries to very rural areas will be safeguarded if the proposed privatisation of the Post Office is implemented.
§ Mr. McLoughlinYes. We have repeatedly made clear that the universal service to every address in the country, at a uniform tariff, is non-negotiable.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to safeguard two daily mail deliveries if the Post Office is privatised.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe number of deliveries a day is currently an operational issue for the Post Office. There are significant parts of the country where there is only one daily delivery. Regulatory arrangements in the event of a change in the status of the Royal Mail will be covered in the forthcoming Green Paper.