PMQS TODAY 27-1-10

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.politics.co.uk/feature/legal ... 356129.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

12:29: Geraldine Smith wants to know about the pensions deficit, in relation to Royal Mail. Harman says the government is committed to the six-day service, etc., etc., as the clock ticks down. "And we want to ensure the pension liabilities are safe as well," she adds as an afterthought.

Will post a video link

a: If I remember
b. if one becomes available.

[Big Daz]

Video link

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8482749.stm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Video link

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8482749.stm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ta - its from 27:12

[Big Daz]

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/p ... htm#hddr_1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Q10. [313311] Geraldine Smith (Morecambe and Lunesdale) (Lab): My right hon. and learned Friend will be aware that Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union are making good progress on modernisation and addressing the industrial relations problems that have bedevilled the industry. Can she now say when the Government will sort out the pensions deficit, which needs to be done as a matter of urgency?

Ms Harman: Like my hon. Friend, the Government are strong supporters of the Royal Mail and want it to have a secure and prosperous future at a time of big change. We are committed to the universal service six days a week and to a post office network. We are also committed to changing the regulations to allow more ability to compete, and we obviously want to ensure that the pension liabilities are secure as well.

[k979aaa]

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/p ... htm#hddr_1

Q10. [313311] Geraldine Smith (Morecambe and Lunesdale) (Lab): My right hon. and learned Friend will be aware that Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union are making good progress on modernisation and addressing the industrial relations problems that have bedevilled the industry. Can she now say when the Government will sort out the pensions deficit, which needs to be done as a matter of urgency?

Ms Harman: Like my hon. Friend, the Government are strong supporters of the Royal Mail and want it to have a secure and prosperous future at a time of big change. We are committed to the universal service six days a week and to a post office network. We are also committed to changing the regulations to allow more ability to compete, and we obviously want to ensure that the pension liabilities are secure as well.

When after the the election it may seem like sour grapes from me but NEW LABOUR put our pensions and the very service we provide at risk and have done nothing ever since but have visions and words of comfort!. I FOR ONE DO NOT BELIEVE IT NOR ANY OF THE HYPE OF ANY OF THE PARTIES THAT OUR NATIONS POST WILL BE SECURE IN ANY OF THEIR HANDS!.

[Big Daz]

Without the PSB being reintroduced minus the sell off part and then being fast tracked, then the 2005 manifesto policy on Royal Mail looks likely to be unfullfilled.

Mandy seems to think that the introduction of the minority partner is a must to get european state aid clearance on the government taking on the pension deficit

“…a bail out of a pension fund on this scale is clearly State Aid and is quite a tall order. It requires clearance by the European Commission. We will be in a position to obtain that clearance from the Commission if the measures that we are adopting to tackle the pension fund deficit are accompanied by modernisation, reforms and transformation of the business, which the legislation as a whole, including the introduction of a minority strategic partner aims to achieve. If anyone imagines that it would be simple or even possible to go ahead simply with a bail out of the pension fund and nothing else, I am afraid that they are not weighing properly the implications of that State Aid clearance. I do not think that we would get it. Therefore, the idea that we could simply go ahead with the part of the Bill relating to pensions and the changes that we are proposing that affect the regulation and get State Aid clearance as a result is fanciful. That is why we have no alternative, even if we wanted one, but to go ahead with the legislation in its entirety and not cherry pick bits of it”. (Hansard 985 31/3/09).

[britwrit]

Being a useless spiv type, I love her use of the word "committed."

Today, I'm committed to living within my budget.

Tomorrow, I'm going "uncommit" for a little bit and buy a big-screen TV, putting it all on my credit card.

And then, after I get it home, I'm going to be committed again.