Keep UK Royal Mail on rail call in Commons

The Royal Mail’s decision to transfer its freight from rail to road was condemned on all sides today with a Commons call to “keep the mail on the rail”.

Labour’s Alan Simpson (Nottingham S) led the question time attack, warning the public viewed the move as “catastrophically irresponsible”.

What environmental impact assessment had been made of this decision?

Transport Minister Kim Howells told MPs the Royal Mail claimed the issue was one of cost and said it was also taking the environmental impact seriously.

He added: “We’ll see about that.”

Don Foster, for Liberal Democrats, said the amount of rail freight in 2002 had “sadly declined” for the first time in years. This would not be helped by the Royal Mail’s “disastrous decision”.

He urged Mr Howells to consider the environmental as well as commercial implications and to “try and knock heads together to try and sort things out and keep the mail on the rail”.

Mr Howells replied: “These are essentially two private companies that are talking to each other about commercial negotiations.

“I don’t intend to interfere in any way in those negotiations.”

The environmental and economic impact was important but so were Royal Mail customers, he argued.

Royal Mail’s future depended on it being a most efficient company in a very competitive environment, he said.

Transport Select Committee chairman Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich) warned: “In the long run it is not going to be in the interest of Royal Mail to add vast numbers of lorries to our roads. They must know that.”

Mr Howells must look carefully at the disadvantages people suffered when trying to negotiate rail contracts, she urged.

Ms Dunwoody added: “There are extra problems of rail freight. We ought to be sympathetic. We ought to see what we can do to help.”

Mr Howells agreed to bear her advice in mind.