Crown Post Offices: Franchising
Debate between Albert Owen and Rachael Maskell(5 years, 11 months ago)
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Rachael Maskell
My hon. Friend has made a powerful point. This has to make business sense and, where it does not, it should not proceed. I also highlight the fact that custom will be lost from retailers in the city who bank and place deposits within the post office. They do not feel safe having to walk through and then queue in a retail outlet. They have already said that they will be transferring their business away from the post office. That has to be taken on board. This does not make business sense or economic sense, nor does it make sense for our high streets or my city.
Albert Owen
As my hon. Friend knows, I know the branch she refers to very well from my student days and I use it at Christmas when I visit my daughter. It has excellent services, including an exchange bureau, which can compete with the best. Those kinds of services, which are working in purpose-built buildings, need to be maintained and enhanced. She is making an excellent case, but she makes it for the rest of the country, as well.
Rachael Maskell
It is so important that we do not sell off our family silver, which is exactly what this process will achieve, certainly with regard to my city.
Finally, I want to raise the issue of the war memorial placed in our post office, where 16 fallen men from the first world war and ten from the second world war are honoured. It is unknown today what will happen to that war memorial. I reflect on the words of Harold Wood, who today is 95. In 1942, he defended our city as part of the Home Guard. He said:
“The Luftwaffe couldn’t destroy it. It would be sad to see the Post Office do it.”
Our post office survived two world wars, so it would be a shame to close the doors, thereby ensuring that its profitability, service and access will be lost to my constituents.
East Coast Main Line Investment
Debate between Albert Owen and Rachael Maskell(6 years, 2 months ago)
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Rachael Maskell
I was referring to the cabling of the trains and to the fact that passengers or members of the public could climb up on the roof. There was an electrocution on a Pendolino train because of that design, yet those trains are still running on the Great Western route, even though the Office of Rail and Road has stopped them running on the east coast.
Albert Owen (in the Chair)
Order. I remind the Minister of the time constraints, especially if he wishes to allow the mover of the debate to wind up.
Public Sector Pay Policy
Debate between Albert Owen and Rachael Maskell(6 years, 6 months ago)
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Each debate is chaired by an MP from the Panel of Chairs, rather than the Speaker or Deputy Speaker. A Government Minister will give the final speech, and no votes may be called on the debate topic.
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Rachael Maskell
Does my hon. Friend recognise that many public servants have been down-banded and as a result given up more money and experienced even more detriment than that from the increases of only 1%?