Royal-mail privatisation: universal service threat -SNP

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/20 ... ice-threat" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The SNP has called upon the UK government to ensure that the Universal Service obligation is protected in their attempt to privatise Royal Mail.

Mr Weir said that current moves to introduce “end-to-end” service posed a real threat to the service which could be a disaster for many areas of Scotland.

SNP calls coincide with a report published by Citizens Advice Scotland last month, showing that people living in some remote and rural areas of Scotland are paying extra money to have goods bought online delivered to their homes – with many courier companies refusing to deliver to certain post-codes.

Mr Weir has lodged an Early Day Motion, supported by the Communications Workers Union, pointing out the dangers and calling for urgent action. The motion has won widespread support from many parties in the House of Commons.

Commenting on the matter Mr Weir said:

“During the busy Christmas and New Year period, we should all reflect on just how vital a universal postal service is to us.

“The Royal Mail service is, however, vital to many at all times of the year and the privatisation plans of the present UK government poses a real threat to the continuation of the universal service.

“At present the Royal Mail is under an obligation to deliver mail at the same price in all areas of the UK six days a week. This is vital to many businesses, especially in rural areas, who do not have access to the special deals offered for bulk mail deliveries.

“If, however, competitors are allowed to cherry pick end to end deliveries in urban areas, this will seriously undermine the ability of Royal Mail to continue the service for all areas, and particularly in rural and more remote areas, where the cost of delivery is higher.

“The regulator is already conducting research into the postal services that is looking at changes to the universal service, which could include cutting delivery days from six to five, reducing quality of service and perhaps even getting rid of first class mail.

“I have previously pointed out that the existing legislation could effectively lead to the loss of the first class service since there is no price cap on first class mail.

“These changes would be a disaster for rural areas, and especially rural businesses. A reduction in days could also lead to substantial redundancies within the postal service.

“Scotland needs a first-class mail service for all our communities. The ridiculous scaremongering of the No campaign that we could not afford such a service is shown for what it is - when under the existing UK system we are looking at the possible loss of services through the rush to privatisation - attempted twice by Labour in power and now pursued by the current Coalition.”

Notes:

The text of Mr Weir’s motion – which has attracted cross-party support – can be found at: http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2012-13/818" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Citizens’ Advice Scotland’s report “The postcode penalty” can be found here

http://www.cas.org.uk/news/%E2%80%98pos ... ry-charges" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[silly suffolk]

im voting snp. who's my candidate in suffolk?

[Sharkeyes]

im voting snp. who's my candidate in suffolk?

LOL, I see where your coming from but I'm voting UKIP.

Want to know why?

Labour = support privatisation
Tories = support privatisation
Libdems=support privatisation

UKIP = THE ONLY PARTY THAT HAS AND ALWAYS WILL RIP UP THE POSTAL SERVICES BILL BECAUSE IT IS POLITICAL AND A DIRECTIVE FROM A FOREIGN INTEFERING NON ELECTED BODY OF EUROPEAN UNION COMMISSIONERS, THAT HAVE SO FAR, SUCCEEDED IN HOODWINKING THE BRITISH PEOPLE AND SUCCESSIVE GOVERNMENTS OF THE ABOVE 3 PARTIES INTO FALLING INTO THE EU FEDERALIST TRAP OF DESTROYING INDIVIDUAL NATIONS AND EVERYTHING THAT IS IDENTIFIED AS SUCH.....THE NHS, NATIONAL DEFENCE, NATIONAL POSTAL SERVICES LIKE OURS.

Thats why I can't bring myself to support Labour again becaue the Labour of old is dead and gone. Shame it's still the 'same old Tories', but at least we DO have a real alternative that is gaining strength and openly supports the ROYAL MAIL as a National postal service and not a business comodity to be sold off and asset stripped by foreign owned competitors.

:ncfo :dcfo :vcfo Its time to wake up and smell the coffee.

[fishtank]

UKIP = THE ONLY PARTY THAT HAS AND ALWAYS WILL RIP UP THE POSTAL SERVICES BILL

How will they manage that?
Do you foresee a commons majority for UKIP?
If you do i would lay off the absinthe,you'll go blind.
A vote for UKIP is nothing more than a protest vote and that's something you should grow out off after you start shaving.

[LDV 350]

UKIP = THE ONLY PARTY THAT HAS AND ALWAYS WILL RIP UP THE POSTAL SERVICES BILL

How will they manage that?
Do you foresee a commons majority for UKIP?
If you do i would lay off the absinthe,you'll go blind.
A vote for UKIP is nothing more than a protest vote and that's something you should grow out off after you start shaving.

The SNP were once nothing more than a protest vote and now they are in power up here, voted for them as i couldn't bring myself to vote labour but will be voting against independance

[zigimar]

Oh dear, what a pity SNP. You want to leave the club, you give up your benefits. UKIP are on course to be the power broker after the next general election.

[flaminmoses]

i would have wanted the ukip's to win/do well but unfortunatley we are so wrapped up in europe it will be a really stupid thing to just back out.

problem is the expat situation and the current eu citizens already here.

unless they were granted the same status...ie..they can stay where they are there is going to be a massive knock on efefct.

lets say all ex pats get booted from the eurozone....or ones who havent a job.
means rents rise and house prices too.

that particular bubble gets bigger and ripper for a burst


if eu citizens get the boot but ex pats are allowed to stay put then the housing market will crash the banks and the whole economy goes up the council grit......

[Sharkeyes]

Regarding ex pats getting the boot and EU citizens being kicked out if we leave the Euro Zone, do we have such problems with Norwegian, Swiss or Turkish citizens of which there are thousands living in Germany? No. Too many people are falling for the scare mongering of 'Europhiles' who sit like nodding dogs, accepting the EU propaganda. There's nothing to stop individual nations having their own aggreements with their neighbours in Europe as before. Who the hell do the EU think they are, forcing sovereign nations to accept and change their own sovereign laws to accomodate 'None LAWS, that are little more than dictat handed down from faceless people we don't know, never heard of, they're not elected and we have no means to remve them.
'Oh Yes we do. UKIP is the only way for us, but what you see in Greece, Portugal, Spain and Italy, do you not think that they have fringe protest group parties like UKIP too? Well they do and they're growing. Even Holland has one, full of pissed off Dutch postmen who have suffered as we will if we don't wake up and smell the coffee.