DOCSLIB.ORG

Postal Services in Scotland

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Postal Services in Scotland House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee Postal Services in Scotland First Report of Session 2010–11 Volume I: Report, together with formal minutes, published on 30 December 2010. Volume II: Oral and written evidence, published on 9 January 2011. Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 21 December 2010 HC 669 (-I and –II) Published on 9 January 2011 by authority of the House of Commons London: The Stationery Office Limited £17.50 The Scottish Affairs Committee The Scottish Affairs Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration, and policy of the Scotland Office (including (i) relations with the Scottish Parliament and (ii) administration and expenditure of the offices of the Advocate General for Scotland (but excluding individual cases and advice given within government by the Advocate General)). Current membership Mr Ian Davidson (Labour/Co-op, Glasgow South West) (Chair) Fiona Bruce (Conservative, Congleton) Mike Freer (Conservative, Finchley and Golders Green) Cathy Jamieson (Labour/Co-op, Kilmarnock and Loudoun) Jim McGovern (Labour, Dundee West) David Mowat (Conservative, Warrington South) Fiona O’Donnell (Labour, East Lothian) Simon Reevell (Conservative, Dewsbury) Mr Alan Reid (Liberal Democrat, Argyll and Bute) Lindsay Roy (Labour, Glenrothes) Dr Eilidh Whiteford (Scottish National Party, Banff and Buchan) The following members were also members of the committee during the Parliament: Mark Menzies (Conservative, Fylde) Julian Smith (Conservative, Skipton and Ripon) Powers The committee is one of the departmental select committees, the powers of which are set out in House of Commons Standing Orders, principally in SO No. 152. These are available on the Internet via www.parliament.uk. Publications The Reports and evidence of the Committee are published by The Stationery Office by Order of the House. All publications of the Committee (including press notices) are on the Internet at www.parliament.uk/scotaffcom. Committee staff The current staff of the Committee are Dr Rebecca Davies (Clerk), Alison Groves (Second Clerk), Duma Langton (Inquiry Manager), James Bowman (Senior Committee Assistant), Karen Watling (Committee Assistant), Tes Stranger (Committee Assistant), and Ravi Abhayaratne (Committee Support Assistant) Contacts All correspondence should be addressed to the Clerk of the Scottish Affairs Committee, House of Commons, 7 Millbank, London SW1P 3JA. The telephone number for general enquiries is 020 7219 6123; the Committee’s email address is [email protected]. Postal Services in Scotland 1 Contents Report Page Summary 3 1 Introduction 5 2 Background 7 The Post Office in Scotland 7 The necessity for legislation: the Hooper Review 8 The Postal Services Bill 2010–11 9 The Comprehensive Spending Review and Post Office Funding 10 3 Universal Postal Service 12 Universal Service Obligation 12 Ofcom Review 18 Access to the network 19 Separation of Royal Mail and the Post Office 20 The Inter Business Agreement (IBA) 20 4 A Sustainable Post Office Network? 23 The Network in Scotland 23 Access Criteria 24 Outreach Services 26 Post Office Local 27 Post Office and Postal Services 29 Small businesses 29 Parcel Delivery 31 New Services 32 Mutualisation and the future of the Post Office? 36 Conclusions and recommendations 38 The Comprehensive Spending Review and Post Office Funding 38 Universal Service Obligation 38 Separation of Royal Mail and the Post Office 39 The Network in Scotland 39 Post Office and Postal Services 41 New Services 41 Mutualisation and the future of the Post Office 42 Formal Minutes 43 Witnesses 44 List of printed written evidence 44 Postal Services in Scotland 3 Summary The Government published the Postal Services Bill 2010–11 on 13 October 2010. The Bill received its second reading on 27 October and the proceedings in Public Bill Committee concluded on 9 December. The remaining stages of the Bill in the Commons will be taken on the floor of the House on Wednesday 12 January 2011. We launched our inquiry into Postal Services in Scotland on 28 October 2010. The purpose of our inquiry was not to comment on the broad parameters of the Bill, but to consider the potential impact and consequences of the provisions in the Bill for postal services in Scotland. Postal services and the postal network are the life blood of many rural, remote and island communities throughout Scotland. There are 1,446 Post Offices in Scotland (12% of the UK wide network), making the Post Office Limited Scotland’s largest retail chain. 70% of Post Office branches are located in rural areas, and 171 branches are in the 20% most deprived wards in Scotland. Many rural branches are not financially viable, and receive a subsidy from other parts of the network. Despite a proposed increase in funding for the network during the Comprehensive Spending Review 2010 period, the Post Office network in Scotland is in a precarious position. Many Post Offices in Scotland remain vulnerable to closure and customers face the threat of a demise in the provision of postal services. It is not clear at present how the Bill will protect consumers in deprived urban, rural and remote areas of Scotland. This Report makes a series of recommendations based on two key issues: (i) the maintenance of a universal service and, (ii) the continuation of a sustainable Post Office network across Scotland. We welcome the Ministers assurances in relation to the protections in the Bill for the Universal Service Obligation (USO). The Minister assured us that the Bill would not allow Scotland to be made exempt, as a geographic exemption, from the USO. We also recommend that further clarification is needed in relation to clause 34, which, the Minister assures us, would only allow for more than one universal service provider in the most extreme of circumstances. We support a long and robust Inter Business Agreement between the Post Office Limited and the Royal Mail in the provision of a universal service. In undertaking its review of the level of universal service, we recommend that the Bill should include a requirement for Ofcom to consult with consumers, small business and vulnerable users in remote, rural and island communities in Scotland. We also recommend that Royal Mail are enabled to negotiate sustainable terms for last mile delivery of private mail and parcels. In terms of ensuring a sustainable Post Office network, we are concerned that the Bill neither makes provision for the number of Post Offices nor sets out the access criteria. This is of particular concern given that the Government could meet the access criteria with a network of 7,500 rather than the existing 11,500 branches — thereby presenting a potential threat to some branches in Scotland. We express concern that elements of Outreach services are not sufficiently robust or reliable to provide an adequate service, and fear the new Post Office Local risks downgrading the service further. We welcome the Government’s commitment to the provision of both government and financial services though the Post Office as a key measure to safeguard the network and create a 4 Postal Services in Scotland reliable revenue stream for the Post Office. We are concerned that there appears to be a lack of joined up thinking across Government departments in this respect and recommend a number of practical steps that the Government must take as a matter of urgency to ensure the effective delivery of this policy. Postal Services in Scotland 5 1 Introduction 1. The coalition Government published the Postal Services Bill 2010–11 on 13 October 2010. The Bill received its second reading on 27 October and the proceedings in Public Bill Committee concluded on 9 December. The remaining stages of the Bill in the Commons will be taken on the floor of the House on Wednesday 12 January 2011. 2. We launched our inquiry into Postal Services in Scotland on 28 October 2010, with a view to publishing our Report before the Bill completes its passage through the House. The purpose of our inquiry is to consider the potential impact and consequences of the provisions in the Bill on postal services in Scotland. We are particularly concerned with two key issues: (i) the maintenance of a universal service and; (ii) the continuation of a sustainable Post Office network across Scotland, as it has “a critical role to play in supporting sustainable communities in Scotland”.1 The purpose of our inquiry is not to comment on the broad parameters of the Bill. The major issues of privatisation and the pension deficit, for example, are UK wide issues, and the merits and pitfalls of these proposals have been considered widely elsewhere. 3. Scotland has a third of the landmass of the United Kingdom, but less than 9% of its population.2 Scotland is large and overwhelmingly rural. Some of the issues highlighted in this Report would apply to other parts of the United Kingdom, in particular to rural and remote communities. However, much of Scotland is remote, difficult to access and, importantly, not on a transport route to somewhere else—in particular the Highlands and Islands. These factors complicate the provision of postal services in Scotland and the provisions in the Bill may therefore have specific and far reaching consequences for Scotland. In this Report, we highlight some of those issues, and, where possible, make recommendations as to how the Bill could be changed, or future action be taken, to safeguard the provision of a universal service and maintain a sustainable Post Office network throughout Scotland. 4. We took oral evidence from: Consumer Focus Scotland and the National Federation of SubPostmasters; from Mutuo; the Communication Workers Union and Unite; from Post Office Limited and the Royal Mail Group; Postcomm; Ofcom and from Edward Davey MP, Parliamentary Under–Secretary of State, Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Royal Mail Annual Report
    Royal Mail plc Royal Mail plc Annual Report and Financial Statements Royal Mail plc 2014-15 Annual Report FinancialAnnual Statements and 2014-15 Strategic report Governance Financial statements Other information Strategic report Who we are 02 Financial and operating performance highlights 04 Chairman’s statement 05 Chief Executive Officer’s review 07 Market overview 12 Our business model 14 Our strategy 16 Key performance indicators 18 UK Parcels, International & Letters (UKPIL) 21 General Logistics Systems (GLS) 23 Financial review 24 Business risks 31 Corporate Responsibility 36 Governance Chairman’s introduction to Corporate Governance 41 Board of Directors 43 Statement of Corporate Governance 47 Chief Executive’s Committee 58 Directors’ Report 60 Directors’ remuneration report 64 Financial statements Consolidated income statement 77 Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 78 Consolidated statement of cash flows 79 Consolidated balance sheet 80 Consolidated statement of changes in equity 81 Notes to the consolidated financial statements 82 Significant accounting policies 131 Group five year summary (unaudited) 140 Statement of Directors’ responsibilities in respect of 142 Information key the Group financial statements Independent Auditor’s Report to the members of 143 Royal Mail plc Case studies Royal Mail plc – parent Company financial statements 146 This icon is used throughout the document to indicate Other information reporting against a key performance indicator (KPI) Shareholder information 151 Forward-looking statements 152 Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014-15 Who we are Royal Mail is the UK’s pre-eminent delivery company, connecting people, customers and businesses. As the UK’s sole designated Universal Service Provider1, we are proud to deliver a ‘one-price-goes-anywhere’ service on a range of letters and parcels to more than 29 million addresses, across the UK, six-days-a-week.
    [Show full text]
  • Maintaining Rural Retail Networks: Best Practices Abroad and Their Implications for the US Postal Service. Report Number RISC
    Cover Office of Inspector General | United States Postal Service RISC Report Maintaining Rural Retail Networks: Best Practices Abroad and their Implications for the U.S. Postal Service Report Number RISC-WP-20-003 | March 25, 2020 Table of Contents Cover Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 1 Observations .................................................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 3 Background: Rural Trends that Affect Postal Providers ........................................................... 3 Government Policies Shape the Size and Mission of Rural Postal Networks .................. 4 Government Subsidies for Postal Retail Services ........................................................................ 6 Strategies to Reduce the Cost of Rural Retail Networks ......................................................... 8 Strategies to Produce More Revenue from Rural Outlets ....................................................... 13 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................... 16 Appendices .....................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis of Rural Post Office Branches
    COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF RURAL POST OFFICE BRANCHES A Final Report to the Postal Services Commission Prepared by NERA and RAND Europe June 2003 London Project Team: NERA John Dodgson Michael Spackman Leela Barham RAND Europe Andrew Daly Charlene Rohr Peter Burge 15 Stratford Place London W1C 1BE Tel: (+44) 20 7659 8500 Fax: (+44) 20 7659 8501 Web: http://www.nera.com An MMC Company ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank Postcomm, Post Office Ltd and, last but certainly not least, the many individuals who contributed to our survey of households in rural areas. All responsibility for the contents of this report and the conclusions reached rests with NERA. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY i 1. INTRODUCTION 1 1.1. Study Brief 1 1.2. Our Terms of Reference 1 1.3. The Structure of this Report 2 2. THE RURAL POST OFFICE NETWORK 5 2.1. Introduction 5 2.2. Number and Type of Rural Post Office Branches 5 2.3. Services Provided by Rural Post Office Branches 8 2.4. Use and Accessibility of Rural Post Office Branches 11 2.5. The Role and Importance of Rural Post Offices 14 2.6. Threats to Rural Post Office Branches and Responses 18 3. THE CHOICE MODELLING APPROACH TO THE VALUATION OF BENEFITS 23 3.1. Introduction 23 3.2. The Choice Modelling Approach 23 3.3. The Survey Questionnaire 24 3.4. Household Selection 26 3.5. Selection of Interview Locations 27 3.6. Conduct of the Surveys 30 4. USE OF RURAL POST OFFICE SERVICES 33 4.1.
    [Show full text]
  • Kazakhstan Jumps 15 Spots on IMD World
    +31° / +17°C WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 2017 No 11 (125) www.astanatimes.com Major events such as AEF Astana EXPO 2017 kicks off with and EAMF are coming up in June. Reports, opinions dazzling show, concert and fireworks on pages A6, A8. The most anticipated event of the year launches on June 9. Nur Alem, the centerpiece pavilion of EXPO 2017 and the world’s largest ball of glass with a diametre of 80 metres, is lit up by spectacular fireworks. For in-depth coverage please check Section C. India, Pakistan join SCO; anti-extremism convention tops agenda at Astana summit the heads of state who arrived in By Dmitry Lee the run up to the summit. During the meeting of the Coun- ASTANA – The Kazakh capital cil of the SCO Heads of State, he hosted the 17th Shanghai Coopera- noted the accession of India and tion Organisation (SCO) summit Pakistan would give new impetus June 8-9, with the accession of In- to the growing-in-numbers organi- dia and Pakistan and anti-extrem- sation and raise its international ism convention topping the agenda status. Nazarbayev added this was amid hopes of bolstering the or- the last time the heads of only the ganisation’s presence in Eurasia. six states – China, Kazakhstan, While the world had its collec- Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Tajik- tive eyes on the Kazakh capital as istan and Uzbekistan – would be it held the summit and launched seated at the negotiating table, as EXPO 2017 June 9, President Nur- the next summit will include the sultan Nazarbayev conducted a two new member nations.
    [Show full text]
  • Caithness County Council
    Caithness County Council RECORDS’ IDENTITY STATEMENT Reference number: CC Alternative reference number: Title: Caithness County Council Dates of creation: 1720-1975 Level of description: Fonds Extent: 10 bays of shelving Format: Mainly paper RECORDS’ CONTEXT Name of creators: Caithness County Council Administrative history: 1889-1930 County Councils were established under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889. They assumed the powers of the Commissioners of Supply, and of Parochial Boards, excluding those in Burghs, under the Public Health Acts. The County Councils also assumed the powers of the County Road Trusts, and as a consequence were obliged to appoint County Road Boards. Powers of the former Police Committees of the Commissioners were transferred to Standing Joint Committees, composed of County Councillors, Commissioners and the Sheriff of the county. They acted as the police committee of the counties - the executive bodies for the administration of police. The Act thus entrusted to the new County Councils most existing local government functions outwith the burghs except the poor law, education, mental health and licensing. Each county was divided into districts administered by a District Committee of County Councillors. Funded directly by the County Councils, the District Committees were responsible for roads, housing, water supply and public health. Nucleus: The Nuclear and Caithness Archive 1 Provision was also made for the creation of Special Districts to be responsible for the provision of services including water supply, drainage, lighting and scavenging. 1930-1975 The Local Government Act (Scotland) 1929 abolished the District Committees and Parish Councils and transferred their powers and duties to the County Councils and District Councils (see CC/6).
    [Show full text]
  • Water Safety Policy in Scotland —A Guide
    Water Safety Policy in Scotland —A Guide 2 Introduction Scotland is surrounded by coastal water – the North Sea, the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. In addition, there are also numerous bodies of inland water including rivers, burns and about 25,000 lochs. Being safe around water should therefore be a key priority. However, the management of water safety is a major concern for Scotland. Recent research has found a mixed picture of water safety in Scotland with little uniformity or consistency across the country.1 In response to this research, it was suggested that a framework for a water safety policy be made available to local authorities. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has therefore created this document to assist in the management of water safety. In order to support this document, RoSPA consulted with a number of UK local authorities and organisations to discuss policy and water safety management. Each council was asked questions around their own area’s priorities, objectives and policies. Any policy specific to water safety was then examined and analysed in order to help create a framework based on current practice. It is anticipated that this framework can be localised to each local authority in Scotland which will help provide a strategic and consistent national approach which takes account of geographical areas and issues. Water Safety Policy in Scotland— A Guide 3 Section A: The Problem Table 1: Overall Fatalities 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 2010 2011 2012 2013 Data from National Water Safety Forum, WAID database, July 14 In recent years the number of drownings in Scotland has remained generally constant.
    [Show full text]
  • Modern Rune Carving in Northern Scotland. Futhark 8
    Modern Rune Carving in Northern Scotland Andrea Freund and Ragnhild Ljosland (University of the Highlands and Islands) Abstract This article discusses modern runic inscriptions from Orkney and Caithness. It presents various examples, some of which were previously considered “genuine”, and reveals that OR 13 Skara Brae is of modern provenance. Other examples from the region can be found both on boulders or in bedrock and in particular on ancient monuments ranging in date from the Neolithic to the Iron Age. The terminology applied to modern rune carving, in particular the term “forgery”, is examined, and the phenomenon is considered in relation to the Ken sington runestone. Comparisons with modern rune carving in Sweden are made and suggestions are presented as to why there is such an abundance of recently carved inscriptions in Northern Scotland. Keywords: Scotland, Orkney, Caithness, modern runic inscriptions, modern rune carving, OR 13 Skara Brae, Kensington runestone Introduction his article concerns runic inscriptions from Orkney and Caithness Tthat were, either demonstrably or arguably, made in the modern period. The objective is twofold: firstly, the authors aim to present an inventory of modern inscriptions currently known to exist in Orkney and Caith ness. Secondly, they intend to discuss the concept of runic “forgery”. The question is when terms such as “fake” or “forgery” are helpful in de­ scribing a modern runic inscription, and when they are not. Included in the inventory are only those inscriptions which may, at least to an untrained eye, be mistaken for pre­modern. Runes occurring for example on jewellery, souvenirs, articles of clothing, in logos and the Freund, Andrea, and Ragnhild Ljosland.
    [Show full text]
  • Further Studies of a Staggered Hybrid Zone in Musmusculus Domesticus (The House Mouse)
    Heredity 71 (1993) 523—531 Received 26 March 1993 Genetical Society of Great Britain Further studies of a staggered hybrid zone in Musmusculus domesticus (the house mouse) JEREMYB. SEARLE, YOLANDA NARAIN NAVARRO* & GUILA GANEMI Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS,U.K. Inthe extreme north-east of Scotland (near the village of Joim o'Groats) there is a small karyotypic race of house mouse (2n= 32), characterized by four metacentric chromosomes 4.10, 9.12, 6.13 and 11.14. We present new data on the hybrid zone between this form and the standard race (2n =40)and show an association between race and habitat. In a transect south of John o'Groats we demonstrate that the dines for arm combinations 4.10 and 9.12 are staggered relative to the dines for 6.13 and 11.14, confirming previous data collected along an east—west transect (Searle, 1991). There are populations within the John o'Groats—standard hybrid zone dominated by individuals with 36 chromosomes (homozygous for 4.10 and 9.12), which may represent a novel karyotypic form that has arisen within the zone. Alternatively the type with 36 chromosomes may have been the progenitor of the John o'Groats race. Additional cytogenetic interest is provided by the occur- rence of a homogeneous staining region on one or both copies of chromosome 1 in some mice from the zone. Keywords:chromosomalvariation, hybrid zones, Mus musculus domesticus, Robertsonian fusions, staggered dines. Introduction (Rb) fusion of two ancestral acrocentrics with, for Thestandard karyotype of the house mouse consists of instance, metacentric 4.10 derived by fusion of acro- 40 acrocentric chromosomes.
    [Show full text]
  • Research for Tran Committee
    STUDY Requested by the TRAN committee Postal services in the EU Policy Department for Structural and Cohesion Policies Directorate-General for Internal Policies PE 629.201 - November 2019 EN RESEARCH FOR TRAN COMMITTEE Postal services in the EU Abstract This study aims at providing the European Parliament’s TRAN Committee with an overview of the EU postal services sector, including recent developments, and recommendations for EU policy-makers on how to further stimulate growth and competitiveness of the sector. This document was requested by the European Parliament's Committee on Transport and Tourism. AUTHORS Copenhagen Economics: Henrik BALLEBYE OKHOLM, Martina FACINO, Mindaugas CERPICKIS, Martha LAHANN, Bruno BASALISCO Research manager: Esteban COITO GONZALEZ, Balázs MELLÁR Project and publication assistance: Adrienn BORKA Policy Department for Structural and Cohesion Policies, European Parliament LINGUISTIC VERSIONS Original: EN ABOUT THE PUBLISHER To contact the Policy Department or to subscribe to updates on our work for the TRAN Committee please write to: [email protected] Manuscript completed in November 2019 © European Union, 2019 This document is available on the internet in summary with option to download the full text at: http://bit.ly/2rupi0O This document is available on the internet at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=IPOL_STU(2019)629201 Further information on research for TRAN by the Policy Department is available at: https://research4committees.blog/tran/ Follow us on Twitter: @PolicyTRAN Please use the following reference to cite this study: Copenhagen Economics 2019, Research for TRAN Committee – Postal Services in the EU, European Parliament, Policy Department for Structural and Cohesion Policies, Brussels Please use the following reference for in-text citations: Copenhagen Economics (2019) DISCLAIMER The opinions expressed in this document are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Parliament.
    [Show full text]
  • Public Notice-Merged.Pdf
    No. 30-02/202 0-ws Government of lndia Ministry of Communications Department of Posts (PO Division) Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg New Delhi- 110 001 Dated: 8th September, 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE SUBJECT: SEEKtNG suGGEsrloNs/FEEDBAcK/coMMENTS/|NpursrurEWs FROM GENERAL PUBLIC/STAKEHOLDERS ON THE DRAFT "INDIAN POST OFFICE RULES,2020" The central Government proposes to make a new set of lndian post office Rules' 2020 (lPo Rules, 2020) which wiil be in supersession of lpo Rures, 1933. passage 2- with the of time and induction of technorogy, the working of the post office has changed significanfly since 1933, so there is a need for a new set of rules in sync with the today's environment. 3. ln the new set of rpo Rures, 2020. some new rures have been framed, obsolete rules have been dereted from and many rures have been re- framed/modified in sync with the present scenario. The lndian post office Rules, 2020 will be a new set of Rures which wiil govern the functioning of the post offices henceforth. 4. ln the context of the above, the draft of proposed rpo Rures,2020 is hereby notified for information, seeking suggestions/feedbacucomments/inputs/views from general public/stakehorders/customers. Notice is hereby given that the suggestions/feedbacucomments/inputs/views received with regard to the said draft lPo Rules, 2020 will be taken into consideration tilr 6:00 p.m. of 9th october, 2020. 5. Suggestions/Feedback/comments/rnputsA/iews, if any, may be addressed to Ms. Sukriti Gupta, Assistant Director General (postal Operations, Room No. 340, Third Floor, Dak Bhawan, sansad Marg, New Derhi-i10001 , Ter.
    [Show full text]
  • 175 Bus Time Schedule & Line Route
    175 bus time schedule & line map 175 Berriedale View In Website Mode The 175 bus line (Berriedale) has 5 routes. For regular weekdays, their operation hours are: (1) Berriedale: 3:29 PM (2) Dunbeath: 3:29 PM (3) Lybster: 12:30 PM (4) Staxigoe: 7:43 AM (5) Wick: 7:43 AM Use the Moovit App to ƒnd the closest 175 bus station near you and ƒnd out when is the next 175 bus arriving. Direction: Berriedale 175 bus Time Schedule 43 stops Berriedale Route Timetable: VIEW LINE SCHEDULE Sunday Not Operational Monday 3:29 PM Tesco, Wick Tuesday 3:29 PM Hill Avenue, Wick Wednesday 3:29 PM Elm Tree Garage, Wick Thursday 3:29 PM George Street, Wick Friday 12:21 PM Post O∆ce, Wick Oag Lane, Wick Saturday Not Operational Town Hall, Wick High School, Wick 175 bus Info West Banks Terrace, Wick Direction: Berriedale Stops: 43 Seaforth Avenue, Wick Trip Duration: 57 min Line Summary: Tesco, Wick, Hill Avenue, Wick, Elm Agnes Street, Wick Tree Garage, Wick, Post O∆ce, Wick, Town Hall, Wick, High School, Wick, West Banks Terrace, Wick, Agnes Street, Wick Seaforth Avenue, Wick, Agnes Street, Wick, Wick Wick Football Ground, Pulteneytown Football Ground, Pulteneytown, Retail Park, Wick, Rockhill Road, Hempriggs, Whiterow, Hempriggs, Hempriggs Farm, Hempriggs, Post Box, Thrumster, Retail Park, Wick Church, Thrumster, Borrowston, Thrumster, Lyntone Cottage, Ulbster, Smithy Cottage, Whaligoe, Church, Rockhill Road, Hempriggs Bruan, Road End, East Clyth, Stones Road End, Mid Clyth, Telephone Exchange, Mid Clyth, Camster Road Whiterow, Hempriggs End, Mid Clyth, Clyth
    [Show full text]
  • GEC Computers Ltd
    V1 January 2015 GEC Computers Ltd. Origins. In 1968 the real-time computing interests of AEI, Elliott-Automation, English Electric, Marconi and GEC, were consolidated into a single company [ref. 1]. It traded initially as Marconi Elliott Computer Systems Ltd (MECS) and then, after 1971, as GEC Computers Ltd. English Electric obtained the non-computing products and the mainframe data processing products were transferred to ICT/ICL. MECS, and GEC Computers, were for many years based at Borehamwood, though the specialist aerospace computing activities were soon transferred to Marconi-Elliott Avionics Systems Ltd. at Rochester. Initially, the range of MECS computers was inherited from Marconi and Elliott-Automation and comprised the MYRIAD series, M2100 series (a small-scale 16-bit multiprocessor for real-time control]), and the 900 series (see below). About 50% of the applications for these computers were described as ‘military’. The other 50% was made up roughly equally of the following applications areas: Industrial, Laboratory, Marine, Education, Traffic control, Communications, Medical. The GEC 900 series of computers [refs. 2- 4], though first introduced in 1961, had a life extending into the 1980s with machines such as the 920ATC. By then developments had for several years been based firmly at Rochester, under various titles such as GEC-Marconi Avionics Ltd. and eventually BAE Systems. The 900 series is described elsewhere, in the Mainframes section of the Our Computer Heritage website. [ref. 2]. The GEC 2000 and 4000 families. By 1970 GEC Computers Ltd. was working at the Computer Research Laboratory (CRL), Borehamwood, on three new computer ranges. These were known internally as Alpha, Beta, and Gamma.
    [Show full text]