Protests at secrecy over UK Royal Mail findings
Alan Johnson, the trade and industry secretary, is to keep secret the findings of an independent expert advising the government on Royal Mail’s future, a move that yesterday sparked cross-party protests ahead of a decision on the postal operator’s ownership.
The Department of Trade and Industry has ruled out making public any of the advice provided by Sir George Bain, whose work was commissioned by Mr Johnson in the summer.
The decision, revealed in a written parliamentary an-swer this week, has prompted immediate calls for Sir George’s findings to be published alongside a government decision ex-pected within months on plans by Royal Mail’s management for an employee share giveaway.
There is growing concern among Labour backbenchers and trade unions that ministers could renege on a manifesto policy to keep the Royal Mail in “public hands” by agreeing to a proposal from Allan Leighton, chairman, to give employees tradeable shares in the business.
Norman Lamb, Liberal Democrat trade and industry spokesman, said of Sir George’s work: “It should be published. We face some critical decisions over the next few months on Royal Mail. Here we have someone carrying out an independent analysis and in order to en-courage an informed debate, we’ve got to know what the facts are. It’s outrageous to keep it under wraps.”
In July, ministers decided against setting up a formal independent review of the company’s future once the postal services market is opened to full competition on January 1. Instead, Mr Johnson appointed Sir George, former head of the London Business School, to work with him on the issues.
The DTI review could give approval for Royal Mail’s proposal to transfer a significant ownership stake to its staff, something Mr Johnson is not ruling out and has hinted could even benefit employees by increasing their involvement.
Sir George’s findings, which are not expected for some weeks, could influence parliamentary debate were they made public. Some 166 Labour MPs have demanded that all shares continue “to be owned by the government”.
The department, though, wants to keep the findings confidential. In response to a question from Mr Lamb asking when they would be published, Barry Gardiner, a junior DTI minister, said this week Sir George had been “appointed to provide advice . . . there are no plans to publish (his) advice”.
A DTI official said yesterday that advice to ministers was confidential. However, Peter Kilfoyle, Labour MP for Liverpool Walton, suggested the trade secretary should make an exception. “There will be pressure on the government to disclose it and it should do so. This is not just a question about Royal Mail, it is an iconic issue, a very big decision which is important to how the government is viewed on public services.”
