Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of (a) Royal Mail and (b) the Communications Workers Union to assist those parties to agree a pay deal.

Ministers and officials have discussions with different stakeholders on a range of issues however the dispute over pay is an industrial relations matter for Royal Mail, as a private company, and the Communication Workers Union to settle.

It is regrettable to see postal services being disrupted due to strike action and the impacts this will have on consumers, businesses and other users.

The Government is monitoring the situation closely and continues to strongly urge both sides to reach an agreement as soon as possible as talking is the best way to avoid industrial action.