Debate on future for postal services in rural areas

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On Monday 2 September MPs will debate a motion relating to the future for postal services in rural areas. The Backbench Business Committee scheduled this debate following representations from Katy Clark and Mr Mike Weir.

Watch the debate and read a transcript

The debate will be opened by Katy Clark and is expected to begin at around 3.50pm.

Text of backbench motion:

That this House recognises the vital contribution that Royal Mail makes to rural areas; notes that the six day a week collection and delivery service to rural and remote areas is invaluable to local life; further notes that the relationship Royal Mail has with the post office network is equally important for the continued survival of post offices; recognises that the impending privatisation of Royal Mail will place a question mark over its willingness to maintain what may be loss-making services; and calls on the Government to provide more concrete, long-term protections for postal services in rural areas, remote areas and islands while ensuring that the postal universal service obligation in its current form endures.

Watch the debate on Parliament TV and read the views expressed by MPs in Commons Hansard.

Parliament TV: Debate on a motion relating to the future for postal services in rural areas
Commons Hansard: Debate a motion relating to the future for postal services in rural areas

How the subject was selected

The subject for this debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee following representations from Katy Clark and Mr Mike Weir at the Committee's public meeting on 9 July.
Backbench Business Committee

The Backbench Business Committee meets weekly on Tuesdays at 3pm to consider requests for debates from any backbench Members of Parliament on any subject, including those raised in e-petitions or national campaigns.

An MP must make a representation before the Committee for an e-petition or petition to be debated; e-petitions exceeding the Government's 100,000 signature threshold are not automatically allocated backbench time.

The Committee then has to decide how to allocate the limited Parliamentary time it has at its disposal. The Committee's meetings are always conducted in public and can be watched on Parliament TV.

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Link to watch when it starts - I hope http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Playe ... ngId=13716" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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Also on bbc parliament sky 504