§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what redundancy package has been agreed with Consignia; and if she will make a statement. [72507]
§ Stephen Timms[holding answer 24 July 2002]:: Redundancy packages are an operational issue for the company in consultation with the unions.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how Consignia measures and calculates its quality of service targets; and if she will make a statement. [73231]
§ Ms HewittTargets for scheduled services and standards are set in the licence issued by the Postal Services Commission (Postcomm) and agreed between Consignia and the Consumer Council for Postal Services (Postwatch). The system for measurement of performance against those targets is a matter for the company. However independent auditors appointed by Postwatch conduct ongoing audits of the figures to ensure that the reported results are calculated correctly and are an unbiased representation of the actual quality of service. As this is an operational matter for the company I have asked Consignia's Chief Executive to write direct to the hon Member.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what costs are associated with the(a) formation, (b) printing, (c) publishing and (d) distribution of Consignia's annual report and accounts; and if she will make a statement; [72508]
(2) how many modified sub-postmasters offices have closed since 1997, listing for each year the reasons why the office was closed; and if she will make a statement; [72830]
(3) if she will make a statement on the employment status of modified sub-postmasters/mistresses; [72831]
(4) how many modified subpostmasters' offices are run by (a) the self-employed and (b) employees of Consignia; and if she will make a statement. [72840]
§ Stephen Timms[holding answer 24 July 2002]: These are matters that fall within the day to day responsibility of Consignia and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what tender process was used to select companies involved in on-audit services provided to the Post Office in 2001–02; and if she will make a statement; [73235]
(2) which Post Office branches will have cash machines installed by March 2003 broken down by constituency; and if she will make a statement; [73233]
(3) if she will list the charitable donations made by Consignia since 1997; and if she will make a statement; [73298]
185Whow many cash machines are installed in Post Office branches; and if she will make a statement. [73232]
§ Stephen TimmsThese are matters that fall within the day to day responsibility of Consignia and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon member.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what provision has been made by Consignia to compensate modified post offices for loss of income from ACT; and if she will make a statement. [72832]
§ Stephen Timms[holding answer 24 July 2002]:: The Government is committed to the future of the post office network. £480 million has already been invested in modernisation of the post office network. In addition, the Government as owner of the Consignia Group, has taken steps to strengthen the management of the company, including the appointment of David Mills as Chief Executive for Post Office Limited who has been charged with development of a strategic plan to include widening commercial opportunities for the network.
Banking will be a central part of post offices' strategy to move forward. Universal banking services, together with Post Office Limited's plans for an expansion of network banking—the provision of counter services for ordinary current accounts—should lead to a substantial increase in the range and volume of banking at post offices, tapping into a very much larger customer base than benefit recipients alone. This should benefit subpostmasters both directly and through increased footfall, providing a major income stream offsetting the loss over time of the benefit book related revenue.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many days were lost due to(a) sickness, (b) official industrial action and (c) unofficial industrial action in each of the last five years; broken down by grade, by (i) Consignia, (ii) Royal Mail and (iii) Post Office Counters; and if she will make a statement. [72491]
§ Stephen Timms[holding answer 23 July 2002]: These are matters that fall within the day to day responsibility of Consignia and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. WeirTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with(a) Postcomm and (b) Postwatch regarding the maintenance of the universal service obligation on the Post Office. [72802]
§ Stephen TimmsMinisters regularly have discussions with Postcomm and Postwatch on strategic postal issues.
The postal universal service obligation was laid down in the Postal Services Act 2000 and consists of a service provided at an affordable price determined by a public tariff uniform throughout the United Kingdom. It includes the delivery each working day to the home or premises of every individual in the United Kingdom and a collection each working day from access points, subject to the exceptions to this agreed with Postcomm.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions have taken place between the Government and Consignia to merge the services186W provided by "your guide" with the website www.ukonline.gov.uk; and if she will make a statement. [70518]
§ Stephen Timms[holding answer 22 July 2002]: Post Office Limited discussed with Government a wide range of services which might potentially be offered via a Your Guide-type scheme, including the possibility of access to ukonline. My Department has worked closely with the Office of the eEnvoy on the options.
§ Mr. PageTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when her Department was informed of the decision to change the name of the Post Office to Consignia. [70883]
§ Stephen TimmsThe Department was informed by the Post Office in November 2000 of the proposed name of the company that was to be designated as the Post Office company.
§ Mr. PageTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when her Department was informed of the proposal to charge to deliver early morning mail for small businesses receiving fewer than 20 letters per day. [70882]
§ Stephen TimmsThe Department was informed about the level of the charge for Consignia's additional service a few days before Consignia announced that it would be running pilots of its new Tailored Delivery Service on 10 July. The service will now be trialled at £5, £10 and around £14 per week for the pilots but the Chairman of Consignia, Allan Leighton, has said that the final proposed price will be part of the evaluation of the pilots in consultation with the regulator, the Postal Services Commission, and the consumer body, Postwatch.