§ Sir Raymond PowellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions she has had with(a) management and (b) trades unions over her plans to give greater commercial freedom to the Post Office. [38142]
§ Mr. Ian McCartneyFollowing my announcement last May of a review of options for granting the Post Office greater commercial freedom, I have consulted a wide range of interested parties, including the management and unions of the Post Office. I last met both management and union representatives on 6 April.
I and my officials will continue to have discussions with both management and unions during the next phase of the review, the terms of which were announced by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough (Mr. Reed) on 6 April 1998, Official Report, column 63
§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the impact of Post Office Counters' policy of increasing agency arrangements with multiple retailers at the expense of sole traders; and if she will make a statement. [38533]
§ Mr. Ian McCartneyDecisions relating to individual post office agency appointments are the operational responsibility of Post Office management. I understand from Post Office Counters Ltd. that they do not operate any policy of preferring multiple retailers to sole traders in making agency appointments and that each case is judged on its merits in the light of established criteria and interviews.