'Privatise Royal Mail and parts of BBC'

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.j ... ail115.xml

by Rosa Prince
Last Updated: 1:57am BST 15/04/2008

Royal Mail and parts of the BBC should be privatised to boost public finances, according to a report released today.

The Adam Smith Institute claims a new wave of privatisation similar to that begun by the Tories in the 1980s could net the Exchequer more than £20?billion.

As well as BBC Worldwide, the institute suggests Channel 4, Scottish Water, and government stakes in British Energy are ripe for sale, along with the National Air Traffic Services (NATS).

Nigel Hawkins, an investment analyst and author of the report Privatisation - Reviving the Momentum, said privatisation would benefit the public in a number of ways, including lower prices, greater choice and better customer service.

He added: "Privatisation in the UK remains unfinished business. The task for Government, of whatever colour, should be to complete it and to reap the many benefits - including proceeds of some £20 billion."

The report argues that Royal Mail is the most obvious candidate for flotation, despite a £5 billion pension fund deficit.

It suggests the core Post Office division has scope for efficiencies and expansion, and its "trusted access" to 27 million addresses is ripe for commercial exploitation.

Mr Hawkins also argues strongly for the sale of Channel 4, which he says no longer fulfils its original public service remit and is in need of further funding.

He points out that while water privatisation began in England in 1989, companies remain publicly owned in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and run as a not-for-profit business in Wales.

The report welcomes the confirmation from the Government that its nuclear industry shareholdings will be sold, and calls for the disposal of its residual 35 per cent in British Energy at the earliest opportunity.

[DGP1]

Maybe the government would also like to sell my soul to big business after all 60million souls in the UK would net a massive windfall for the government.

When have these big privatised companies every been good for any but the shareholders.



I'm going to lie down in a darkened room to calm down.