Post Office: Statutory Monopoly

HL Deb 18 July 1996 vol 574 cc73-4WA

Lord Mancroft

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to suspend the Post Office's statutory monopoly on delivery of letters under £1.

Lord Fraser of Carmyllie

In the light of the Communication Workers Union announcement last week of a series of four further strikes, consultations were initiated last week with the Post Office to establish as clear a view as possible of the implications of a suspension of the monopoly I am now consulting the Post Office on a proposal to suspend the Post Office's monopoly for an initial period of one month with effect from 26th July. If during that period it became clear that disruption of the postal services was likely to continue, I would propose a further suspension of the monopoly for a period of three months.