That this House is concerned to note that there are high court writs against the Post Office from Bridgegate Engineering regarding infringement of intellectual property rights; is also concerned that the Post Office has awarded an untendered ??7.5 million contract to Aldo Manta to manufacture equipment potentially at higher cost than available elsewhere for which intellectual property rights are claimed by Bridgegate Engineering and the Post Office, and that a writ has been served against Piriac Ltd., trading under the name of Aldo Manta, for infringements of these rights; is further concerned that Aldo Manta has changed name and ownership numerous times recently and that its two majority shareholders are Lloyd's names who owe thousands of pounds on disaster syndicates; notes that Aldo Manta (Manufacturing) Ltd., based at the same address as Aldo Manta, has used a false VAT number and that Aldo Manta Manufacturing Ltd. did not trade in 1993; requests that the President of the Board of Trade urgently establishes an inquiry into how the Post Office has been accused of breaches of civil law and the awarding of an untendered contract to a company whose credentials appear to fall significantly short of the levels of probity required by the Post Office Code of Conduct; and calls on Post Office management and the Department of Trade and Industry to concentrate on proper, efficient and equitable management of the postal service rather than let their free market fervour for Post Office privatisation distract them from their duties. (Relevant Registered interest declared).

That this House is concerned to note that there are high court writs against the Post Office from Bridgegate Engineering regarding infringement of intellectual property rights; is also concerned that the Post Office has awarded an untendered ??7.5 million contract to Aldo Manta to manufacture equipment potentially at higher cost...

That this House notes that the Post Office Code of Conduct for the purchase of goods and services requires its purchasing to achieve value for money, and requires suppliers to have a track record, long term security, financial standing, stable ownership and brand leadership; notes that the Post Office has awarded an estimated ??7.5 million contract (No. 3094008) to Aldo Manta the trading name for Piriac Ltd. whose directors are Clive Sumner, a Lloyd's name with total losses estimated at ??500,000, and David Tapley, a Lloyd's name with total losses estimated at ??1,200,000, on disaster syndicates; notes that Aldo Manta has changed its name, ownership and structural details several times over the last few years; is concerned that the Post Office has awarded a contract in apparent breach of its own code of conduct to a company that does not have a track record or stable ownership, that the contract was not open to competition and that there is a dispute in the High Court regarding the intellectual property rights of the goods ordered; calls on the President of the Board of Trade to investigate this matter and explain what control his Department exercises over Post Office contracts and management, and when he will address the concerns expressed regarding Post Office contracting in a letter passed on to him from the Leader of the House, the Right Honourable Member for Braintree; and demands that Post Office privatisation must be halted until at least a proper inquiry has been held into this matter. (Relevant registered interest declared).

That this House notes that the Post Office Code of Conduct for the purchase of goods and services requires its purchasing to achieve value for money, and requires suppliers to have a track record, long term security, financial standing, stable ownership and brand leadership; notes that the Post Office has...