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WEEKLY INFORMATION FROM THE COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION
SUMMARY

Attachments or LTB's can be emailed or downloaded from the National Site
Volume 10 Issue 4 Paragraphs 56-75 28 January 2005

SUMMARY
GENERAL
56 Liaison Meetings with CWU Group
57 Headquarters Printing and Reprographic Services
58 Modern Rights and Modern Workplaces
59 Equality & Diversity Mandatory Training for Branch Officials (I)
60 Equality & Diversity Mandatory Training for Branch Officials (II)
61 Equality & Diversity Mandatory Training for Branch Officials (III)
62 Union Skills I Course
63 Union Skills III Course
64 Health & Safety at Work Stage II
65 Reminder - Health & Safety at Work Stage III
66 Induction Course
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
No items this week
HEALTH AND SAFETY
67 BT Front Wheel Drive Transit Vans
68 External Hire of Commercial Vehicles in BT
TELECOMS
69 Network Operations - Call-out Process Documentation
70 BT Wholesale Markets - Datastream Migration and Resourcing
71 21CN - Trials Update
72 Network Build - CSC Briefing to Team Members
73 BT Exact and One IT Community Newstart Leavers Scheme
74 One IT - Revised Performance Management Process
FINANCIAL SERVICES
No items this week
POSTAL
75 Physiotherapy for Royal Mail Employees
LETTERS TO BRANCHES
15 20.01.05 Telecoms Organising 2005 - Target Company Work Plans - Jeannie Drake
16 20.01.05 BT Field Service - Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) - Ian Cuthbert
17 20.01.05 NEC Elections and National Officer Elections 2005 - Steve Baguley
18 20.01.05 Network Operations - Attendance Patterns - Brian Healy
19 20.01.05 Xmas/New Year arrangements - BT Contracts - Manpower and Hays - Sally Bridge
20 20.01.05 BT 21CN property strategy - Simon Sapper
21 21.01.05 Project Edin - Service Desk and Implementation Work - Simon Sapper
22 24.01.05 Payment for the Delivery of Election Material - Bob Gibson
23 24.01.05 National Appeal - Boris Lidovski - GS/John Colbert
25 24.01.05 Service Agility: Global Service Synergies Project - Ian Cuthbert
26 25.01.05 Local Government Elections - GS
27 25.01.05 Royal Mail Pay - Dave Ward
28 25.01.05 Staff in BT plc - DGS(T)
29 25.01.05 Age Discrimination - Retirement Age - Bill McClory
30 26.01.05 Effect of SDD on Delivery Office Canteen - Bob Gibson
31 26.01.05 Service Agility/Global Services Synergies Project - Simon Sapper
32 26.01.05 Election for Uni World Conference, Uni World Women's Conference, Uni Europa Postal and Telecoms Conferences - Steve Baguley

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GENERAL
56
Liaison Meetings with CWU Group MPs
Meetings with CWU supported MPs have now been arranged for 2005 and, for your information, I list below the dates of the meetings and those nominated to attend:
15 February
John Holmes, Chris Murphy,
Maria Exall, Graham Colk and a Midlands Region representative.
15 March
John Holmes, Joe Malone, Andy Kerr, Karen Rose and a South West Region representative.
19 April
John Holmes, Steve Fishwick,
Manny Blake, Graham Colk and a North West Region representative.
Billy Hayes
General Secretary

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57
Headquarters Printing and Reprographic Services
Branches and Representatives will wish to know that CWU Headquarters have recently acquired new reprographics equipment. The purpose of broadcasting this information is to inform you that we are now able to offer a print service to branches that we believe will be within a price range that you will find competitive. Amongst the services we can provide are colour or black & white posters, leaflets, booklets etc. It is not possible to produce a price list as prices will vary dependent on each individual job based on quantity, timescale, delivery requirements etc. If you would like more information about this service or wish to receive a quote for a particular piece of work then please ring or email Jacquie Winter, Acting Head of Post & Reprographics. 020 8971 7218 jwinter@cwu.org.

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58
Modern Rights and Modern Workplaces
At the 2004 TUC Congress in Brighton, a Composite Resolution on Employment Rights was unanimously passed. That Resolution called on the General Secretary of the TUC to organise a national rally at the earliest opportunity to press the case for improved trade union and employment rights.
As a result a TUC Employment Rights Campaign Conference is to be held on 7th February at the TUC. The aim of the conference is to identify priorities for improvement in the framework of UK law. It is open to workplace reps and activists as well as legal and policy officers.
Anyone wishing to attend this conference should complete the Booking Form which will be despatched in the usual Branch Mailing.
Any enquiries on this paragraph should be addressed to the General Secretary quoting the reference GS 15.15

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59
Equality & Diversity Mandatory Training for Branch Officials (I)
In line with Conference policy, we now require branches to submit applications for the following mandatory Equality & Diversity courses.
These courses are being held in the Scotland Region:
Tuesday 1st March - Fife College
Tuesday 8th March - Fife College
Further dates and venues for other regions will be published in due course.
Nominations should be made on an application form for Union courses and returned as soon as possible to Trish Lavelle, Head of Education & Training, CWU Education & Training Centre, Alvescot Lodge, Alvescot, Bampton, Oxon OX18 2PY. Telephone: 01993 843373; Fax: 01993 840960; email: mtodd@cwu.org

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60
Equality & Diversity Mandatory Training for Branch Officials (II)
In line with Conference policy, we now require branches to submit applications for the following mandatory Equality & Diversity courses.
These courses are being held in the North East Region:
Tuesday 15th February - Leeds
Wednesday 9th March - Leeds
Further dates and venues for other regions will be published in due course.
Nominations should be made on an application form for Union courses and returned as soon as possible to Trish Lavelle, Head of Education & Training, CWU Education & Training Centre, Alvescot Lodge, Alvescot, Bampton, Oxon OX18 2PY. Telephone: 01993 843373; Fax: 01993 840960; email: mtodd@cwu.org

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61
Equality & Diversity Mandatory Training for Branch Officials (III)
In line with Conference policy, we now require branches to submit applications for the following mandatory Equality & Diversity courses.
These courses are being held in the North East Region:
Tuesday 1st March - Sheffield
Tuesday 8th March - Newcastle
Tuesday 5th April - Newcastle
Further dates and venues for other regions will be published in due course.
Nominations should be made on an application form for Union courses and returned as soon as possible to Trish Lavelle, Head of Education & Training, CWU Education & Training Centre, Alvescot Lodge, Alvescot, Bampton, Oxon OX18 2PY. Telephone: 01993 843373; Fax: 01993 840960; email: mtodd@cwu.org

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62
Union Skills I Course
The Communication Workers Union has organised a Union Skills I course to be held at the union's Education & Training Centre at Alvescot Lodge. All courses held at Alvescot Lodge are accredited with the National Open College Network. This is a fully integrated course.
The course will be held from 25 - 29 April 2005
The closing date for applications is 10 March
The Linked Education Programme is designed to encourage members to become more active in the union. It is open to all members of the CWU, but is particularly aimed at new activists. We particularly encourage branches to nominate women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and young members who are often under-represented on the CWU Education and Training Programme. All members of the union who wish to have a working knowledge of the wider Trade Union and Labour Movement would benefit from attending the Linked Education Programme. The courses are called 'Linked Education' because the programme comprises three distinct but connected courses, each of one week duration. It begins with the Union Skills I, followed by the Union Skills II and concludes with Union Skills Ill. The three parts of the course are completely self-contained, but there are real educational benefits in completing all three parts of the programme in a year or eighteen months. Union Skills courses attract special leave with pay.
All courses at Alvescot are residential. The cost of tuition, food and accommodation will be met from the General Fund. Branches requiring financial assistance from the General Fund to enable them to send students to the course must submit the request with the nomination, to enable the Trustees to consider the request in time.
The Education Centre can offer child-minding facilities for a maximum of three under school age children at any one time. If any applicant from your branch would like child-minding facilities, can you please advise the age and sex of the child on the application form. Further information on the child-minding arrangements will then be sent to successful applicants.
Those nominees who are Committee Members, Branch Representatives or Branch Officers are entitled to leave with pay. Nominations should be made on the form for Education Courses, and returned to Alvescot Lodge by the closing date shown. If you nominate more than one member (a maximum of two please), indicate the order of preference if necessary and please apply for only one course at a time. If a member is refused a place, due to oversubscription, then indicate this on a subsequent application for another date.
Application forms should be addressed to: Trish Lavelle, Head of Education & Training, CWU Education & Training Centre, Alvescot Lodge, Alvescot, Bampton, Oxon OX18 2PY. Telephone: 01993 843373; Fax: 01993 840960; email: mtodd@cwu.org

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63
Union Skills III Course
The Communication Workers Union has organised a Union Skills III Course to be held at the Union's Education & Training Centre at Alvescot Lodge. All courses held at Alvescot Lodge are accredited with the National Open College Network. This is a fully integrated course.
The course will be held from 11 - 15 April 2005
The closing date for nominations is 24 February
Only members who have attended a Union Skills I/Induction and a Union Skills II course are eligible for nomination.
Application forms should be addressed to: Trish Lavelle, Head of Education & Training, CWU Education & Training Centre, Alvescot Lodge, Alvescot, Bampton, Oxon OX18 2PY. Telephone: 01993 843373; Fax: 01993 840960; email: mtodd@cwu.org

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64
Health & Safety at Work Stage II
A Health and Safety at Work Course Stage II has been organised to be held at the Education and Training Centre at Alvescot Lodge. All courses held at Alvescot Lodge are accredited with the National Open College Network. This is a fully integrated course.
The course will be held from 18 - 22 April 2005
The closing date for nominations is 3 March
Applicants for this course will have already attended the Union's Health & Safety Stage I course.
Application forms should be addressed to: Trish Lavelle, Head of Education & Training, CWU Education & Training Centre, Alvescot Lodge, Alvescot, Bampton, Oxon OX18 2PY. Telephone: 01993 843373; Fax: 01993 840960; email: mtodd@cwu.org

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65
Reminder - Health & Safety at Work Stage III
A Health and Safety Stage III has been organised to be held at the Education and Training Centre at Alvescot Lodge. All courses held at Alvescot Lodge are accredited with the National Open College Network. This is a fully integrated course.
The course will be held from 14 - 18 March 2005
Please submit applications ASAP
Applicants for this course will have already attended the Union's Health & Safety Stage I & II courses.
This course will give a substantive overview of the following:

Application forms should be addressed to: Trish Lavelle, Head of Education & Training, CWU Education & Training Centre, Alvescot Lodge, Alvescot, Bampton, Oxon OX18 2PY. Telephone: 01993 843373; Fax: 01993 840960; email: mtodd@cwu.org

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66
Induction Course
The Communication Workers Union has organised an Induction Course to be held at the Union's Education & Training Centre at Alvescot.
The course will be held from 4 - 8 April 2005
The closing date for nominations is 17 February
This course is aimed at newly elected POSTAL representatives.
this on a subsequent application for another date.
Application forms should be addressed to: Trish Lavelle, Head of Education & Training, CWU Education & Training Centre, Alvescot Lodge, Alvescot, Bampton, Oxon OX18 2PY. Telephone: 01993 843373; Fax: 01993 840960; email: mtodd@cwu.org

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HEALTH AND SAFETY
67
BT Front Wheel Drive Transit Vans
For some while now the Health and Safety committee have raised concerns at the BT Field Services Safety JCC over a problem raised by Branches about loss of traction when driving front wheel drive transits in wet, icy or snowy weather conditions.
It has been reported to the CS Field safety committee that a trial was undertaken last winter with the use of snow/mud tyres - although no policy decision to fit these vehicles with these types of tyres was made at the time.
A reminder has been sent to all LCMs advising them that if a member of their team has any vehicle problem then the individual should be advised to contact the Transport helpdesk. Please see below the relevant guidance issued by BT for those individuals encountering traction problems.
The issue of vehicle weight was looked into and it was agreed that the LCM would check the loading of a vehicle, discuss local driving problems with the driver, and if the LCM considered it necessary then arrange for new tyres to be authorised via the CSTM. Mud & Snow tyres are available where an LCM believes that a vehicle usage meets the requirements laid down in the transport helpdesk guidance, e.g. the local patch presents abnormally rural and/or very hilly conditions.
"Traction Problems Transport Helpdesk Guidance
There have been a small number of issues reported with a loss of traction on the Transits, when driving in hilly/muddy conditions, particularly rural tracks. The matter has been fully investigated both by Ford and by BT Fleet. Ford have clearly demonstrated that FWD and RWD transits have equal traction, and loss of traction has not been reported by any other users of these vehicles. The BT racking design on the transits was designed for the RWD vehicles, and for health and safety the majority of the heavy items are nearest the rear doors to prevent the engineers having to lift these items in an awkward manner.
The following guidelines apply to all BT vehicles where the driver reports traction problems. The problem is generally caused when vehicles are:

If a driver rings to report an issue relating to loss of traction, take his details (contact no, vehicle, workshop etc.) explain that you will be in contact with his Line Manager to discuss the situation.
Contact the LCM, and explain that the vehicle load and distribution will need to be checked and weighed (there will be a charge for weighing). For weighing the vehicles, check with the local workshop to see if they offer the facility, (if not location details of these are usually available from the Local Authority/Trading Standards Departments). The driving technique of the driver needs to be considered by the LCM to ensure that the driver is aware of best practice when driving in more extreme conditions, he will be aware if the driver has a good driving history.
After the above checks have been completed, if the LCM agrees that further action is required as the vehicle is used regularly in the conditions outlined earlier, then a customer order form will need to be completed and authorised by the LCM to order Mud & Snow tyres for the vehicle. It is expected that Mud and Snow tyres will only be supplied by exception, e.g. the local patch presents abnormally rural and/or very hilly conditions. These will be billed to the OUC and the tyres will also require more frequent replacement, which may attract additional charges.
The LCM will need to ensure that the driver is made aware of the following:

All enquiries to Dave Warren, Acting National Health, Safety & Environment Officer, quoting Reference NS 32A

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68
External Hire of Commercial Vehicles in BT
Following concerns raised at the CS Field Safety JCC by the CWU about the standards, conditions, and suitability of some of the vehicles, such as Platform elevators currently being hired locally by CS Field management the H & S committee have now received confirmation as to policy that will be adopted by CS field for vehicle hires and bring to the attention of branches the following section within the Field Service Transport Policy for Line Managers and Drivers of Vehicles.
External Hire of Commercial Vehicles

Any queries on this should in the first instance be addressed to smann@cwu.org
Dave Warren, Acting National Health, Safety & Environment Officer, quoting Reference NS 32A

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TELECOMS
69
Network Operations - Call-out Process Documentation
Branches at the Network Briefing Forum raised issues around management's policy on the use of
Call-outs within Network Operations. Consequently there were discussions that led management to formally draw up a national process document and a copy is attached for the information of
Branches. This review was also driven in part by an investigation into reasons behind failures responding to customer faults.
Management have stated that a call-out list is required when there is a business need to have engineers available to attend faults outside of normal working hours or when there is insufficient night resource to resolve the problem.
Before setting up a list, the appropriate local or functional management should investigate if there is currently a list in existence to avoid duplication and discuss with the CWU at an appropriate local level. If it is determined that a new list is required consideration needs to be made whether one (or more) paid standby engineers are required. An analysis of the local work mix, resource available and duty of care should be carried out to determine how many engineers need to be on the list. With respect to any formal call-out proposal, consultation should take place with the union at an appropriate level with the aim to proceed within one month.
The data builders (part of Work Manager operations) populate the call-out lists from information supplied by the field organisation. Each list is titled to include the geography and skill, to ease searches. Call-out lists are set to rotate automatically but could be set such that any engineers receiving call-out allowance are the first to be contacted when a call-out arises.
Consideration should be taken of:

An entry on a call-out list should have a single point of contact (home or mobile number) as determined by the individual. Each Tier 2 patch will be responsible for a voluntary rota of Tier 1 managers that will form the basis of a management call up list to be used in the event of any escalation. CWU grades should not be used to provide a substitute escalation service.
Branches have also raised the issue of members being removed from the residential official line facility and this will be subject of a separate report to Branches.
Brian Healy
Assistant Secretary
Attachment 1 Attachment 2

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70
BT Wholesale Markets - Datastream Migration and Resourcing
During the course of 2003, Tiscali UK lodged a complaint against BT in regard to opening up at a reasonable price an automated migration product for transferring IPStream to DataStream. It is understood that Thus later supported the same complaint and that BT failed to settle the matter contractually. At present, operators who want to move users across from IPStream to DataStream are required to cancel an existing service and place a new order with BT, which incurs the standard connection charge, and results in more downtime for the end user. It has been alleged that BT is obstructing customer migration by imposing excessive network downtime, refusing to work at off peak times to minimise disruption or to automate the process such that it operates efficiently.
At that time BT indicated that it was developing an automated service for IPStream to DataStream migrations. However, Tiscali and Thus argue that the proposed target price was neither fair nor reasonable for the following reasons:

In addition, Thus and Tiscali argue that BT is discriminating in favour of IPStream against Data Stream by offering a one month minimum contract term for IPStream, compared to three months DataStream.
BT has argued that there was no dispute, as it is developing an automated migration process and discussions with Tiscali and Thus are continuing. Further, BT argues that the assumptions underlying Thus and Tiscali's claim that the proposed migration charge is unreasonable are flawed. BT has also argued that both issues fall outside the Interconnection Regulations.
The Regulator considered that there was clearly a failure by the parties to reach agreement regarding the pricing of a migration product, and on the minimum term for DataStream and therefore investigated this dispute.
The Regulator has stated that it has found three reasons for the need as to why there may be migration.

Ofcom has concluded that a Broadband Access migration service at a reasonable charge to be important for the promotion of effective competition. I order to be able to compete effectively with BT, it is necessary for an entrant to be able to compete for existing end-users, otherwise the new entrant would have to win a very large proportion of new ADSL end-users. Ofcom state it seems doubtful that it is realistic for operators to build their business cases on this basis. Therefore, the ability of other operators to migrate end-users and service providers efficiently and economically is important for competition.
Ofcom further notes that the development of the broadband access migration service and process, mainly benefits BT's competitors, as it is necessary to enable those competitors to compete for the business of ISPs currently provided via BT's IPStream (via which the vast majority of ADSL internet access services are provided at present). Therefore, BT has had little commercial incentive to develop an efficient automated migration process on a timely basis; indeed the reverse is true.
Given BT's strategic incentive to choose a relatively costly and inefficient migration procedure to deter competitors from attracting BT's existing customers, Ofcom considers it appropriate to consider efficiently incurred costs when setting the charge for providing broadband access migration services, rather than simply setting it on the basis of BT's actually incurred costs.
Therefore, Ofcom proposes that BT should provide broadband access migration services on reasonable terms and conditions, at a charge of £11 per migration, based on BT's efficiently incurred costs.
Ofcom also set up a timeframe of opening up this migration in spring of this year.
The consequence of the interference or intervention by the Regulator in the commercial and operational business of BT, led to a range of ISPs approaching BT Wholesale Markets and sharing with it their intentions and requirements.
This has a one-off resourcing impact which has been shared with the Union in advance. BT Wholesale Markets needs to be able to handle 100k migrations per month and the current capacity is 10k migrations. None of these migrations bring any additional revenues/profit; in fact revenues are lost.
The Executive has discussed with management a range of resourcing options and regrettably the outcome has not been one which the Union would have preferred. BT Wholesale Markets have been in discussions with a number of potential suppliers to see if they could take on this temporary growth work on an outsourced basis. Of these all the UK based suppliers declined to bid as they did not have sufficient capacity. Also they want assurances that this would come in a steady stream and this cannot be guaranteed.
As a result BT Wholesale Markets have decided to outsource this work to one of these suppliers - Progeon - who will undertake the work on an outsourced basis at one of their centres in India.
No current BT Wholesale Market job is affected by this activity, which is not likely to last more than 12 months. The Executive team has sought assurances and commitments with regard to future plans, in particular with regard to outsourcing remotely. Management in response has stated that their much preferred position is direct labour but as has been the case, they will explore all options to meet contractual, regulatory and customer requirements.
Attached for the information of Branches are copies of internal briefings and Q&As being released.
Brian Healy
Assistant Secretary
Attachment 1 Attachment 2

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71
21CN - Trials Update
Branches may wish to be aware of the current progress.
Voice trials: Following the 21CN voice trial in October, (diverting the first customer calls off the public switch telephone network (PSTN) onto a dedicated internet protocol (IP) link) there has been a great deal of activity to add call traffic from 38 digital local exchange units in 11 locations onto the new IP link. Work is underway to test voice services on the core IP based network with 1,000 BT employees. The focus through January will be to complete the connection of the first phase of Multi-Service Access Nodes (MSANs) and to connect trial customers to the platform.
Fibre trials: There has been substantial progress with the fibre trials. BT met all year end goals and have carried traffic for over 100 customers before Christmas. The system has proved very reliable and it has been stated that the services provided were very popular with customers. The focus for January is to accelerate the connection of external customers in the three trial sites of Ipswich, Milton Keynes and Docklands.
Business cases: BT are currently preparing 21CN business cases for Converged Core, Integrated Service Delivery and 21CN Portfolio.
Brian Healy
Assistant Secretary

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72
Network Build - CSC Briefing to Team Members
Attached for the information of Branches is a copy of an internal management briefing which communicates the change in direction with regard to the numbers required to run the Back Office Controls.
Brian Healy
Assistant Secretary
Attachment

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73
BT Exact and One IT Community Newstart Leavers Scheme
Branches were previously advised of the potential for a limited and restricted window for Newstart in One IT. Attached for the information of branches is a copy of an internal One IT notice formally opening up the scheme.
Brian Healy
Assistant Secretary
Attachment

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74
One IT - Revised Performance Management Process
So that there is no misunderstanding, the attached briefing is designed and specifically targeted at Connect grades and is addressing how these grades can work towards achieving their individual year's bonus. There is no change for CWU represented grades.
Brian Healy
Assistant Secretary
Attachment
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POSTAL
75
Physiotherapy for Royal Mail Employees
The letter published below confirms that the option of a new physiotherapy service will be available from the beginning of the new financial year in April:
7 Jan 2005
Bob Gibson
Dear Bob
Thank you for your letter dated 24th December regarding physiotherapy.
I am pleased to be able to report that there has at last been some progress on this issue.
I attach a very broad summary of the new service below, but would be very happy to discuss further details with you should you wish.
The new physiotherapy service will be available to all employees from the beginning of the financial year. Referring managers will be able to request physiotherapy for employees who are off sick, and who they believe will benefit from the service. At the time of referral to Atos Origin (EHS), the request will be passed to professional scrutiny and, following this, automatically routed to physiotherapy as required.
Again, please feel free to contact me should you wish to discuss this in greater detail, or if you have any concerns you wish to discuss.
Tammy Tansley
Employee Relations Manager
Royal Mail Letters
Any enquiries to Bob Gibson's Department, Ref 100

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