To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent progress has been made in discussions between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union; and what assessment he has made of the likelihood of a final agreement being reached soon. (303662)

[holding answer 2 December 2009]: We are pleased that the discussions between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union established by the agreement on 6 November are continuing. The detail of those discussions, however, is a confidential matter for both parties.

The Government want to see a successful outcome to the discussions and welcome the appointment of Roger Poole (former Assistant General Secretary of NUPE and of UNISON and Chairman of the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland) to oversee the process. Both parties need to keep talking until an agreement is made on a way forward on the next phase of modernisation, which everyone accepts is vital for the company’s future.