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Mrs. Dean: Does my hon. Friend accept that innovative measures such as mobile post offices might need Government intervention, or at least a Government approach to and discussion with the Post Office? I thank him for what he said about the possibility of taking that up with the Post Office, but a bit more Government support might be needed. I feel, and I know Postwatch feels, that if mobile post offices are possible in rural areas they should be possible in urban areas.
Mr. Sutcliffe:
Clearly, some of what has been done for the rural network may be applicable to the urban network, and we should examine that possibility. But, for the reasons we have given relating to the financial and commercial situation, it would be wrong to impose our will on a commercial interest. We must work with Postwatch and Postcomm to deal with the position in
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which Royal Mail and the Post Office find themselves, and find solutions that meet the requirements of the marketplace and consumers. The Government will be doing that very soon. I hope to be able to take a view on the many issues that Royal Mail faces, and I shall certainly discuss with it the question of a viable future network that is sufficiently flexible to meet consumers' and constituents' demands. I am sure that the Post Office, because of the support that it receives from the Government, will want to consider our suggestions.
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I will look at the issues that my hon. Friend has raised, and I know that she has done as much as she can in raising them in the House. I know, too, that she supports the Government's position in trying to ensure that we have a viable post office network.
Question put and agreed to.
- Adjourned accordingly at fifteen minutes to Seven o'clock.
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