Dear Mr Gill

Re: Freedom of Information Request

I am writing in response to your email dated 10^th February 2010. You wrote seeking clarification following of Royal Mail's response to your earlier request for information about night allowances. In your email you wrote:

“Thank you for your reply to my FOI request. However, there is one question you did not reply to and a couple of points I need clarifying:

I asked you to explain whether the fact that some mail centres received an extra night allowance and others did not would be classed as discrimination under the Royal Mail's own company equality policy/.”

In our letter dated 9^th February 2010, we explained that no such recorded information is held by Royal Mail. Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 Royal Mail is obliged to release recorded information (usually recorded in writing) that it holds at the time it receives a request, unless an exemption applies. It does not oblige Royal Mail to create new information or to answer questions where these cannot be answered by existing recorded information.

You also commented that Manchester Mail Centre was included in the list of offices where a night allowance was paid to employees and that in your experience as casual employee in 2009, an extra payment was not given.

The pay rates for Christmas Casuals were shared with applicants at the Christmas Casual registration events and provided on the pre-agreed Period of Engagement letter given to successful candidates. The pay rates for Christmas Casuals employed at Manchester Mail Centre for all shifts were £5.95 per hour. The minimum casual rate is determined nationally, and the payment of any additional allowances to casuals is determined locally. The decision not to offer the night allowance at Manchester Mail Centre was made by the Mail Centre Manager and supported by the Regional Director Processing. In error, night allowances were paid to those Christmas Casuals who started work at Manchester Mail Centre in Mid-November. However, as soon as this mistake came to light, Mail Centre Management informed the casual workforce and subsequently payment of the allowance was discontinued.

In your email you asked us to investigate the situation at Manchester Mail Centre. However, as we have already explained, the Freedom of Information Act provides individuals or organisations with the right to request information held by public authorities and other bodies covered by the Act. The right of access under the Act only applies to recorded information; meaning specific information recorded electronically or in paper documents. If you require further assistance in relation to your personal employment and pay received, you can write to Royal Mail HR Services. Please write, including your pay number, to the following address:

Sheffield Service Centre
HR Services
Royal Mail
Pond Street
Sheffield
S98 6HR

I hope that this clarifies our previous response and that the information. . However, if you are not satisfied with the response to your request for, you do have a right of appeal. If you wish to do so please set out in writing your grounds of appeal and send to The Head of Information Compliance, Royal Mail Group, Company Secretary's Office, 100 Victoria Embankment, LONDON, EC4Y 0HQ. An internal panel will then review your request, and you will be advised of the outcome.

If you decide to appeal and are still not satisfied with our response you also have a right to appeal to the Information Commissioner at:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Telephone: 01625 545 700

www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Cont…

10^th March 2010