Report on Royal Mail future due

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 14 Dec 2008, 06:33

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7782130.stm

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has received the findings of an inquiry into the future of Royal Mail.

The head of the review, Richard Hooper, believes the postal service needs to modernise and become more efficient.

The report may recommend Royal Mail's multi-million pound pension deficit should be met by the government.

But unions are concerned Mr Hooper's proposals, following the year-long review of Royal Mail, will lead to large-scale job losses.

BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said the findings of the Hooper review have been eagerly, if warily awaited by the postal industry as it is likely to deliver some uncomfortable home truths.

Royal Mail will be portrayed as inefficient when compared to its continental counterparts, he says.

And the report will raise questions over the size and scale of its distribution network.

The report by Mr Hooper - the former Ofcom deputy chairman - is also likely to say cost-cutting will not be enough to put the business on a sounder footing.

But the unions will want the cabinet to stamp on any recommendation that Royal Mail should enter a joint venture with the private sector, a move that would not require new legislation, our correspondent says.

The report is expected to be published soon, but in an economic downturn, the business secretary will have to think long and hard about any proposals that could cost jobs, he adds.

norbert · Post by **norbert** » 14 Dec 2008, 12:21

If New Labour have reports commissioned - the reports can only contain what New Labour wanted to hear in the first place

Post by **dvbuk55** » 14 Dec 2008, 13:27

norbert wrote:If New Labour have reports commissioned - the reports can only contain what New Labour wanted to hear in the first place

Quite so. I don't know how much it has cost, but if the proposals are ignored, then you could consider it wasted money and of course we've had Mandy brought back to "oversee" its implementation. KY gel time again. Lets just hope we get the next lot of changes out of the way before we start on the new ones, it'll make a change of course but you never know.

Darren Bent · Post by **Darren Bent** » 14 Dec 2008, 14:25

Government probably use a yes man to write the report.

Post by **fmrPOSTIE** » 14 Dec 2008, 18:33

“Our concern is to save the Royal Mail, not to privatise it. We have a manifesto commitment to a publicly owned Royal Mail and we will not be setting that aside.”

Govt source.

I cant see it being privatised. Too much hassle for this worn-out government.

Post by **trythat** » 14 Dec 2008, 18:46

I expect it, all to be leaked by tomorrow evening, or perhaps the main bits will be kept under covers until Wednesday, for PMQ (of course, thats if they're not already on holiday).

doveston · Post by **doveston** » 14 Dec 2008, 23:16

the bbc's source
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/dec/1 ... und-crisis

Post by **britwrit** » 14 Dec 2008, 23:40

Yeah, the government has to call an election by late spring 2010. With the clock ticking, I can't see them doing anything but kicking the report into the long grass until after then. They could technically shove privatisation through without a vote in Parliament (like they're talking about with the third runway at Heathrow and like they did with the banks) but in terms of PR, that would be a disaster.

But AFTER the election? If Labour gets back in, I think we'll be living in Petey Boy's brave new world.