I am grateful to the Minister for the courtesy of an advance copy of his statement. As the Minister made clear, Royal Mail is no longer the essential business tool that it once was. The combination of electronic communications, growth in parcel delivery services and competition for business mail means...

I am grateful to the Minister for the courtesy of an advance copy of his statement. As the Minister made clear, Royal Mail is no longer the essential business tool that it once was. The combination of electronic communications, growth in parcel delivery services and competition for business mail means...

If the hon. Gentleman will forgive me, I will not give him a lecture at this stage on how these things work. I hope he will accept that I have visited a number of companies in which shares are traded, but are traded within the trust that owns the shares...

If the hon. Gentleman will forgive me, I will not give him a lecture at this stage on how these things work. I hope he will accept that I have visited a number of companies in which shares are traded, but are traded within the trust that owns the shares...

I am grateful to my hon. Friend.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend.

Yes, for the last time.

Yes, for the last time.

I am not terribly hung up over whether it is a partial privatisation or a wholly public non-privatisation. What concerns me, as I said earlier, is the creation of a modernised Royal Mail that is fit for purpose and delivers on a universal service obligation, and a post office network...

I am not terribly hung up over whether it is a partial privatisation or a wholly public non-privatisation. What concerns me, as I said earlier, is the creation of a modernised Royal Mail that is fit for purpose and delivers on a universal service obligation, and a post office network...

I bow to the hon. Gentleman's superior knowledge in this field.

I bow to the hon. Gentleman's superior knowledge in this field.

Let me make clear that I am in favour of an injection of finance, and in favour of a partnership. What I am saying is that as part of that overall deal, proper consideration could be given to the employees through the granting of shares so that they would have...

Let me make clear that I am in favour of an injection of finance, and in favour of a partnership. What I am saying is that as part of that overall deal, proper consideration could be given to the employees through the granting of shares so that they would have...

That is precisely the point I am coming on to. I wonder whether the hon. Gentleman will allow me to develop it in my own words and intervene again later if he wants to. Hooper makes it clear that the commercial partnership is far more important—or at least equally as...

That is precisely the point I am coming on to. I wonder whether the hon. Gentleman will allow me to develop it in my own words and intervene again later if he wants to. Hooper makes it clear that the commercial partnership is far more important—or at least equally as...

Absolutely, and I would ask the Minister to ensure that there was a clear, transparent contract between the two entities. I am trying to draw his attention to the fact that it seems extremely difficult for an organisation that has taken in private equity to own part of another organisation...

Absolutely, and I would ask the Minister to ensure that there was a clear, transparent contract between the two entities. I am trying to draw his attention to the fact that it seems extremely difficult for an organisation that has taken in private equity to own part of another organisation...

Perhaps the Minister might like to observe that, with friends like that, who needs enemies? The Post Office needs capital and, as part of what goes on, it is important that some of the capital raised should go to the Post Office. The Minister alluded to the fact that capital...

Perhaps the Minister might like to observe that, with friends like that, who needs enemies? The Post Office needs capital and, as part of what goes on, it is important that some of the capital raised should go to the Post Office. The Minister alluded to the fact that capital...

I am extremely grateful to the right hon. and learned Gentleman for that intervention. I draw his attention to the amendment that I tabled, which is a fairly accurate reflection of the policy that we adopted at our conference three years ago, which I believe is widely available. I shall...

I am extremely grateful to the right hon. and learned Gentleman for that intervention. I draw his attention to the amendment that I tabled, which is a fairly accurate reflection of the policy that we adopted at our conference three years ago, which I believe is widely available. I shall...

I have indeed discussed the potential for putting contracts into post offices with my own local authority, the Highland council. It pointed out that it had very good service centres, but that some areas were not covered by them. There is certainly room to look further into that, so the...

I have indeed discussed the potential for putting contracts into post offices with my own local authority, the Highland council. It pointed out that it had very good service centres, but that some areas were not covered by them. There is certainly room to look further into that, so the...

I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss the Hooper report. When the statement was made, I said that it was important to debate the matter fully. Indeed, if ever an issue deserved a pre-legislative scrutiny process, surely this is it. Richard Hooper and his team have done an excellent...

I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss the Hooper report. When the statement was made, I said that it was important to debate the matter fully. Indeed, if ever an issue deserved a pre-legislative scrutiny process, surely this is it. Richard Hooper and his team have done an excellent...

I thank the Minister for giving me an advance copy of the statement and notice of the salient points. It is clear from a rapid reading of Mr. Hooper's report that it is a serious body of work that sets out in clear terms the challenges facing Royal Mail, and...

I thank the Minister for giving me an advance copy of the statement and notice of the salient points. It is clear from a rapid reading of Mr. Hooper's report that it is a serious body of work that sets out in clear terms the challenges facing Royal Mail, and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Strategic Rail Authority will set new targets to achieve their earlier target of delivering £370 million improvements to 1000 stations by 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Strategic Rail Authority will set new targets to achieve their earlier target of delivering £370 million improvements to 1000 stations by 2004.