§ Martin LintonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Consignia staff are employed at the Nine Elms Royal Mail sorting office; and what plans she has for the future of this sorting office. [14953]
§ Mr. AlexanderAs an operational issue, plans for the future of the Nine Elms site are a matter for Consignia.
Consignia have informed me that some 3,000 staff are employed at the Nine Elms site of which approximately 1,500 are employed on mail processing.
5W
§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she has taken to encourage Consignia to make greater use of rail freight for mail deliveries. [15027]
§ Mr. AlexanderThis is an operational issue for Consignia.
I have been informed that the company is currently undertaking a review of its countrywide road, rail and air transport links as part of plans to reshape the entire network to meet the demands for faster, cost effective services in the future.
§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of mail was carried by(a) road and (b) rail in each of the last five years. [15026]
§ Mr. AlexanderThis is an operational issue for Consignia.
Consignia has informed me that, for each of the last five years prior to the Hatfield rail disaster in October 2000, 20 per cent. of mail was carried by train, 5 per cent. by air and the remaining 75 per cent. by road; and that figures since October 2000 are not available.