§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when her Department was informed about the proposed abolition of the second delivery of post. [21232]
457W
§ Mr. Alexander[holding answer 13 December 2001]There is no formal requirement for Consignia to inform the Department about its proposals in relation to second delivery as they are operational issues for the company provided that it remains within the terms of the licence issued to it by the Postal Services Commission. However, the Department has regular discussions with Consignia about a range of strategic issues facing the company.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last met Consignia to discuss the franchise arrangements for Parcelforce. [23267]
§ Mr. Alexander[holding answer 17 December 2001]The Department has regular discussions with Consignia about a range of strategic issues facing the company. However, franchise arrangements for Parcelforce are operational issues for the management of the company which I understand is consulting with the unions on the matter.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when her Department was informed by Consignia of the proposal to charge for post delivered before 9.30 am. [21233]
§ Mr. Alexander[holding answer 13 December 2001]There is no formal requirement for Consignia to inform the Department about its proposals to charge for post delivered before 9.30 am as they are operational issues for the company provided that it remains within the terms of the licence issued to it by for the Postal Services Commission. However the Department has regular discussions with Consignia about a range of strategic issues facing the company.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations have taken place between the Government and Consignia regarding the announcement of job cuts; when her Department was informed by Consignia that it was to make job cuts; what discussions have taken place to mitigate the effects of these job losses; what action the Government intend to take to save as many jobs as possible; whether the various post services where these cuts may take place have been identified; how many job losses there will be in Coventry; what discussions took place between Consignia and the postal unions prior to the announcement of job cuts; and whether there are any meetings planned with the postal unions regarding the announcement of job cuts. [23656]
§ Mr. Alexander[holding answer 17 December 2001]The Department has regular discussions with Consignia about a range of strategic issues facing the company. How this company intends to make the £1.2 billion cost savings it has announced is an operational issue for the company in consultation with the unions. The company does not yet have a proposal on what impact the £1.2 billion cost savings will have on employment levels and has not informed the Government of specific plans of how it intends to achieve these savings.
§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the cost of the name change to Consignia. [23654]
§ Mr. AlexanderThe choice of name of the Post Office company and the cost of its implementation were essentially commercial matters for the company and are not areas in which Government would have sought to intervene.
458WI am informed by the company that, by the time the name effectively came into use on the day on which the property, rights and liabilities of the Post Office were transferred to the new company, the total costs were less than £2 million, much of which I am informed would have been incurred in any event in respect of signage, stationery and financial documentation because of the transformation to a plc.
§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she intends to waive dividend payments from Consignia for the current financial year. [22762]
§ Mr. AlexanderNo decision has been taken.