§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions by what means ministerial boxes are conveyed from private offices in his Department to his Ministers; how frequently and at what expense private courier firms are employed for such a task; and which courier firms have been used for such duties. [36269]
§ Dr. WhiteheadCurrently all ministerial boxes are carried by the Royal Mail. On one occasion (3 February 2002) a private company was used to transport the boxes of the Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, North (Ms Keeble), boxes due to local difficulties due to the late opening of the Northampton office. The cost of this was £147.00 compared to £70.83 plus unspecified charges for bringing staff in to open the depot and collect the boxes. The courier firm used was Racer. Local difficulties have now been resolved and the Royal Mail are now again collecting the boxes.