The Committee is very concerned by consistent and growing reports, and now many direct representations, about significant failures in Royal Mail's letter delivery service. EP Group's takeover was approved on a legal undertaking that it would maintain the Universal Service Obligation that is the bedrock of the UK's postal service. But one year in, even first-class deliveries are way off track.
The committees not had a chance to reflect on these allegations because recess means Parliament isn't sitting this week. My task this week is to make sure that the committee's got options in front of them when they meet on Tuesday for how we might or might not take this investigation forward. Obviously, we can't and don't want to compromise a police investigation.
Via Rail says recent train cancellations along its Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal corridor were in response to "heightened operational pressure." A number of trains between Toronto and Ottawa, Ottawa and Montreal, and Montreal and Ottawa were cancelled "end-to-end" Monday due to what Via Rail's live tracker called "operational constraints." Pressed for details, the federal Crown corporation declined to be interviewed but said via email that the cancellations are a short-term measure meant to "protect service reliability" during what's expected to be a challenging time.
Accepting the role, McDonnell said he was honoured to lead the group at a "critical juncture" for financial oversight in the UK, stressing that victims of investment fraud and regulatory failures "deserve justice, not excuses", adding 'We will not allow a race to the bottom in regulation'. He argued that consumer protection must be viewed not as a brake on growth but as "the foundation of a financial system that works in the public interest".
Powell's appearance will mark the end of a year-long standoff between the committee and ministers, who refused for months to make him available for scrutiny before parliament. The prime minister's spokesperson said on Monday that Powell takes his accountability responsibilities very seriously. The committee, chaired by Labour MP Matt Western, is in discussions with officials over the date of the hearing.