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1136332

	registered interest
	date	02/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Post Office: Legal Profession
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, who the six law firms are that are approved to provide legal services to Post Office Limited.
	tabling member constituency	North Durham
	tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
	uin	272157
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>The selection of law firms to provide legal services to Post Office Limited is an operational matter for the company in which my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State plays no role. However, Post Office Limited receives legal services from the following six law firms:</p><ol><li>Linklaters LLP</li><li>Norton Rose Fullbright LLP</li><li>Pinsent Masons</li><li>DAC Beachcrofts LLP</li><li>Womble Bond Dickinson</li><li>Ashfords LLP.</li></ol> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 08/07/2019 15:06:26 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

1136607

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Post Office: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, who attended the summit for the sub-postmasters pay review which was announced and convened on 13 June 2019; and when that group is next scheduled to meet.
	tabling member constituency	North Durham
	tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
	uin	272781
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises the key role postmasters play in ensuring Post Office branches thrive and remain at the heart of communities across the UK. This is why the Government committed to safeguard the post office network and protect existing rural services.</p><p> </p><p>Below is the list of attendees from the working group meeting which took place on Thursday 13 June 2019:</p><p> </p><ol><li>Kelly Tolhurst – Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy</li><li>Carl Creswell – Director, Professional Business Services, Retail and Post</li><li>Calum Greenhow – Chief Executive Officer, NFSP</li><li>Peter Hall – Head of Policy and Research, NFSP</li><li>Tim Boothman – Chair and Director for the North West, NFSP</li><li>Stuart Rogers – Executive Director (South West), NFSP and Postmaster of Ashburton Post Office.</li><li>Alisdair Cameron – Interim Chief Executive Officer, Post Office Limited</li><li>Debbie Smith – Chief Executive, Retail, Post Office Limited</li><li>Alice Cookson – Head of Corporate Affairs, Post Office Limited</li><li>Nick Beal – Head of Agents &amp; Development, Post Office Limited</li></ol><p> </p><p>Other members of the Post Office Policy team also attended this meeting.</p><p> </p><p>The date of the next working group meeting will reconvene on 15 October at 9 am.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 10/07/2019 11:24:31 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

1136608

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Post Office: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the terms of reference are of the sub-postmasters pay review.
	tabling member constituency	North Durham
	tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
	uin	272782
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK. This is why the Government committed to safeguard the post office network and protect existing rural services. The overall number of post offices across the UK remains at its most stable in decades with over 11,500 branches thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010.</p><p> </p><p>While the Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office, it allows the company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent business.</p><p>The review of Postmasters Pay is being undertaken internally by Post Office Limited. As such, the terms of reference of the review are an operational matter for Post Office Limited. I have therefore asked Alisdair Cameron, the Group interim Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, to write to the hon Member on this matter. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 10/07/2019 11:24:41 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

1136609

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Post Office: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the timescale is for the sub-postmasters pay review.
	tabling member constituency	North Durham
	tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
	uin	272783
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2019 answer text <p>Post Office Limited’s review of postmaster pay is expected to be concluded in the Autumn and the implementation of the recommendations is expected to happen in the 2020/21 financial year.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 10/07/2019 11:25:16 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

1136610

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Post Office: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what funding has been made available by the Post Office Ltd to pay for the outcome of the sub-postmasters pay review; and whether that funding is to be additional money to pay sub-postmasters.
	tabling member constituency	North Durham
	tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
	uin	272784
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK. This is why the Government committed to safeguard the post office network and protect existing rural services. The overall number of post offices across the UK remains at its most stable in decades with over 11,500 branches thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010.</p><p> </p><p>The postmasters pay review is being conducted internally by Post Office Limited. Post Office Limited has returned to profitability after 16 years of losses and the Company is now exploring ways to share the growing income more widely with postmasters.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 10/07/2019 11:25:26 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

1136611

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Post Office: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Post Office Ltd will be required to ballot all postmasters on the outcome of the sub-postmasters pay review.
	tabling member constituency	North Durham
	tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
	uin	272785
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK. This is why the Government committed to safeguard the post office network and protect existing rural services. The overall number of post offices across the UK remains at its most stable in decades with over 11,500 branches thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010.</p><p> </p><p>While the Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office, it allows the company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent business. The review of Postmasters Pay is being undertaken internally by Post Office Limited and is therefore an operational matter for Post Office Limited. I have asked Alisdair Cameron, the Group interim Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, to write to the hon Member on this matter. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 10/07/2019 11:25:34 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

1136612

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Post Office: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Subpostmasters Pay Review will ensure that Postmasters will not receive less than the national minimum wage after the deduction of legitimate expenses for each hour they are required to work.
	tabling member constituency	North Durham
	tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
	uin	272786
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2019 answer text <p>Since the start of the Network Transformation Programme in 2012 it has become crucial for Post Office services to be combined with a good retail offer to be successful. The complementary nature of the two businesses operating together enable the retailer to maximise profits in today’s competitive retail environment.</p><p> </p><p>Postmasters are self-employed, independent businesspeople and therefore National Minimum Wage legislation does not apply. However, Government and Post Office Limited are committed to ensure that running a Post Office is attractive and sustainable for postmasters and the review of postmasters pay will focus on achieving this.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 10/07/2019 11:25:40 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

1136613

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Post Office: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Subpostmaster Pay Review will include provisions for the Sub Postmaster to be paid for annual leave to conform with the Working Time Regulations.
	tabling member constituency	North Durham
	tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
	uin	272787
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2019 answer text <p>The aim of this review is to carry out a comprehensive assessment of postmasters’ remuneration from post office products and identify products and services that could see an increase in the variable fees paid to postmasters.</p><p> </p><p>Government is committed to ensuring that running a post office is attractive and sustainable for postmasters, who are self-employed, independent business owners. By virtue of their self-employed status, annual leave entitlements and the Working Time Regulations do not apply.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 10/07/2019 11:25:53 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

1136614

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Post Office: Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Subpostmaster Pay review will include provisions for Subpostmasters to join the Post Office pension scheme.
	tabling member constituency	North Durham
	tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
	uin	272788
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK. This is why the Government committed to safeguard the post office network and protect existing rural services. The overall number of post offices across the UK remains at its most stable in decades with over 11,500 branches thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010.</p><p> </p><p>The aim of this review is to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the remuneration rate postmasters receive from Post Office products and services. This will enable Post Office Limited to identify products and services that could see an increase in the variable fee paid to postmasters, so that postmasters, who are self-employed business owners, are able to ensure their businesses remain viable. Postmasters are self-employed, independent business owners and are not included in the Post Office Pension Scheme.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 11/07/2019 13:03:34 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

1137818

	registered interest
	date	09/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Post Office: Herbert Smith Freehills
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2019 to Question 272157, in what capacity the law firm Herbert Smith Freehills is acting on behalf of Post Office Limited; and for what reason that firm was not listed in the six law firms framework agreement, as outlined in Question 272157.
	tabling member constituency	North Durham
	tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
	uin	275136
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2019 answer text <p>A reference to Herbert Smith Freehills was omitted from my answer to Question 272157 inadvertently. I can confirm that the six law firms previously listed provide legal support to Post Office Limited and are permitted to subcontract to others within the terms of their contract with the Post Office. In addition, Post Office Limited has instructed Herbert Smith Freehills in respect of the Group Litigation.</p><p> </p><p>The selection of law firms to provide legal services to Post Office Limited is an operational matter for the company in which Government plays no role.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 16/07/2019 15:32:29 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 129146 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones