Postal Services Bill

My Lords, I hope my noble friend will in the end decide to resist the blandishments that have been advanced across the Floor of the House. The noble Lord, Lord Stevenson of Balmacara, gave the game away at the end of the speech when he said, ““We are not asking to legislate for the terms of an agreement””. These are complex agreements and it is much better that they should be left to the two companies—both of which are now under competent and trustworthy leadership—to determine the terms of the agreement. As the noble Lord, Lord Stevenson, said—the noble Lord, Lord Rogan, made the same point—there is an existing agreement between the Post Office and Royal Mail and there needs to be, in one way or another, a continuing agreement. The noble Lord, Lord Stevenson, said that the two organisations could not exist the one without the other. Without being an expert in this area, I do not know how far that would be true in perpetuity but it certainly would be true for the time being. Therefore it is very much in the interests of both Royal Mail and the Post Office that there should be a workable agreement between the two. It is for them to negotiate, decide and then sign; it cannot be a matter of Parliament legislating and telling them what to do. Otherwise, what is the point of having the present leadership of these two organisations? Why should it not be in the Civil Service? But, of course, they are commercial companies. They are facing the problems we have debated at some length over recent weeks and they have to be given the trust to do what they consider is in their best interests and the best interests of their customers and employees. I used the word ““blandishments”” earlier; I was being fairly kind. Parliament should not interfere in this area in the way the amendment suggests and I hope my noble friend will feel able to resist it.