To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of the Department's mail is shipped using private companies; and what the cost was over the last 12 months. (95138)

The Department for Communities and Local Government was created on 5 May 2006. The following information covers the period from October 2005 to September 2006, and thus includes data for DCLG's predecessor Department, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Less than 1 per cent. by volume of all DCLG/ODPM postal services were provided by a private company at a cost of £1,236.10. This was for the provision of international postal services.