§ 15. Mr. StringerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his policies for making the Post Office internationally competitive. [65205]
§ Mr. Ian McCartneyThe elements of the Post Office reform package—a combination of market disciplines and commercial freedoms—aimed at transforming the performance of the Post Office and its ability to carry out business both nationally and internationally—are set out in the Statement made by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 7 December 1998,Official Report, columns 21–24.
The first fruit of our new policy has been Government approval for the Post Office's first major foreign strategic acquisition. The acquisition of German Parcel will significantly enhance the international parcels capability of the Post Office. [65220]
§ 28. Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received on the future of the Post Office. [65220]
§ Mr. Ian McCartneyThe statement of this House on the future of the Post Office on 7 December 1998 by my right hon. Friend, the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry followed representations from and consultations with interested parties. These included the Post Office, Post Office Unions, the Post Office Users National Council, the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters, representatives of business users and potential and existing competitors.
We also took full account of the Trade and Industry Select Committee's 1998 Report on the Post Office (HC 380).