PRIVATISATION COMING 'AT WORST POSSIBLE TIME'

[TrueBlueTerrier]

PRIVATISATION COMING ‘AT WORST POSSIBLE TIME’
Government accused over Royal Mail plan


Read more: http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Articl ... z0rxijaIYN" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The UK Government was accused last night of rushing ahead with plans to privatise the postal service “at the worst possible time”.

Angus SNP MP Mike Weir hit out after Business Secretary Vince Cable commissioned an update to a report proposing the part-privatisation of Royal Mail.

Leading businessman Richard Hooper, who drew up his report 18 months ago, is to produce an update taking current market conditions into account.

Mr Weir, SNP business spokesman, said: “Having campaigned to protect postal services before the election, we now have Liberal Democrats in government rushing to implement policies that will have a damaging effect on rural Scotland.”

Mr Weir said the proposals would add to pressure on Royal Mail’s “universal service obligation” – the requirement to deliver to every home and business in the UK at a standard price.

He said: “There is no logic behind these proposals.

“Royal Mail cannot be viewed as just another company. It provides an essential public service, especially to smaller communities and small businesses who do not have access to alternative carriers.

“This is the wrong policy being put in place at the worst possible time.”

The Hooper update was announced in a written statement in the Commons from Postal Affairs Minister Ed Davey, who warned: “The government believes that unless we take the right steps Royal Mail risks being laid low by falling mail volumes, low investment and its huge pension deficit.”

Mr Hooper is being asked in particular “to test whether the underlying issues which threatened the maintenance of the universal service remain.”

The government is preparing legislation to modernise Royal Mail and bring in private sector capital.

Mike O’Connor, of Consumer Focus, said: “It is vital that the universal service obligation is maintained.”



Read more: http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Articl ... z0rximSwL9" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Judgee]

Selling off the family silver to pay off debt.... just wonder what the government will do when there's no silver left?

[andy2007]

Same thing they did when Maggie was in power: Let the other side get in, blame them for everything, and make a serious comeback, when they've had time to think of something else to sell off.

[pokos27]

There is no need to sell it off, if it wasnt for price controls by EU

[DirtyHarry]

Crazy country, crazy people, never learns.
One thing ought to be made clear to the public ahead of privatisation, the USO will not last very long once the nation's postal service becomes a money-making vehicle for shareholders, that is one thing sure and certain.
Ignore the bleatings of morons banging on about the need to hand our national postal system over to sharks in the private sector, and their hand-wringing mutterings about how absolutely essential it is, to have the USO guaranteed, despite there being no profit for private sector sharks in keeping to the limitations of a publicly-owned service, the USO will go, no profit, no gain, get rid.