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The Rt Hon Peter MandeR@SMRICTED - POLICY & MARKET SENSITIVE
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
Secretary of State
Department of
The Rt Hon Stephen Byers MP ‘Trade and Industry
Chief Secretary to the Treasury 1 Victoria Street
HM Treasury London SW1H 0ET
Parliament Street
LONDON
SW1P 3AG
CHIEF SECRETARY
REC.; 14 SEP 1998
ee Sharp
iy [RA [Poce
iy September 1998
e
4.
Thank you for your letter of 10 September setting out your
detailed proposals for taking forward the steps we agreed at
our meeting the previous evening.
I confirm that I am content with what you have proposed. In
particular I accept the remit set out in paragraph 5 of your
letter. My objective within the initial timescale of one
month will be as a minimum to agree with the Post Office
Board the actions that need to be taken on each of the items
listed; to ensure that practical measures are put in place as
quickly as possible to take these actions forward; to
institute arrangements to monitor progress on a regular
basis; and to be in a position to report back to colleagues
such substantive progress as may have proved possible on each
by the end of the first month.
I was pleased to see that you envisage a role for the
troubleshooter which extends beyond the initial negotiation,
and that this is reflected in the draft terms of reference.
This will be important in minimising the misunderstandings
and disagreements between the parties which have undoubtedly
contributed to delays in the past.
gws210
RESTRICTED - POLICY AND MARKET SENSITIVE
dti
Department of Trade and Industry
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Finally, I agree with your suggestion for an
Interdepartmental Working Group, including the Policy Unit,
and my officials stand ready to play a full and constructive
part in its work.
I am copying this letter to the Prime Minister, Jack
Cunningham, Alastair Darling and Sir Richard Wilson, and to
Ian McCartney here. r “
gH9210
RESTRICTED - POLICY AND MARKET SENSITIVE
dtu
Department of Trade and Industry