Ministers talk to Royal Mail contender

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MINISTERS from Lord Mandelson's Whitehall department have held four meetings with the front-runner to take a stake in a part-privatised Royal Mail, it was revealed last night.
The Business Secretary held meetings with the Dutch giant TNT on 9 December last year and 30 January this year.

Pat McFadden. the postal services minister, met the company on 18 March and junior minister Baroness Vadera held talks with it the previous day. Details were revealed in a parliamentary reply by Mr McFadden to the shadow treasury minister, Mark Hoban.

Mr McFadden said he had met the Communication Workers Union three times since 3 October last year and Lord Mandelson had met CWU officials four times.

Lord Mandelson told the Lords yesterday, that the government aims to complete part- privatisation of Royal Mail "later this year or early in 2010".

Potential bidders for the "strategic partnership" in the business had been sought since January, he told peers,

shortlisted companies were invited to present detailed bids this month and firm offers were sought by early June.