To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what date the decision was (a) taken and (b) enacted to move his Department’s post opening and distribution services in Kent from Haden Building Management to the Royal Mail. (141432)

The information is as follows:

(a) The decision to move the Department’s post opening and distribution services in Kent from Haden Building Management to the Royal Mail was a consequence of DWP’s review of office services. The outcomes from this review were approved by the Department’s Executive Team in January 2005.

(b) Following competition, Haden Building Management won the contract to deliver the entire Department’s Office Services requirements and commenced delivery of these services under the contract from 1 March 2007. Royal Mail is a subcontractor to Haden, opening post at Royal Mail Centres, in secure mail opening units. The new contract commenced on 1 March 2007 and offices within the Kent area moved to the Royal Mail between 16 April 2007 and 7 May 2007.