11 February 2009
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown calls on the Government to ensure that Royal Mail carries out full consultation when considering closures - such as the proposal to close the sorting office at Wotton-under-Edge.
Mr. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold) (Con): Will the Minister accept that as Royal Mail is currently wholly publicly owned, if it is going to make important changes involving the loss of jobs, it should consult the public properly? It proposes to close a sorting office at Wotton-under-Edge, a small market town in my constituency in which the sorting office is a major employer. Royal Mail has refused to attend any public meetings or give a business case. Does the Minister not believe that it has an obligation to explain to my constituents why it is making such a change?
Mr. McFadden: The Hooper report states that Royal Mail needs to make changes to sorting and delivery offices and, given the automation that is occurring, that need is recognised throughout the company.
| Hansard
Mr. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold) (Con): Will the Minister accept that as Royal Mail is currently wholly publicly owned, if it is going to make important changes involving the loss of jobs, it should consult the public properly? It proposes to close a sorting office at Wotton-under-Edge, a small market town in my constituency in which the sorting office is a major employer. Royal Mail has refused to attend any public meetings or give a business case. Does the Minister not believe that it has an obligation to explain to my constituents why it is making such a change?
Mr. McFadden: The Hooper report states that Royal Mail needs to make changes to sorting and delivery offices and, given the automation that is occurring, that need is recognised throughout the company.
| Hansard
