Fears for Royal Mail post-2014 (Scotland)

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/ ... x.20327512" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;?

LABOUR want urgent answers from the SNP after a UK department suggested an independent Scotland would lose Royal Mail.

A spokesman for the Department for Business was quoted as saying a new version of the postal service would have to be created.

Labour's Shadow Postal Affairs Minister Ian Murray said: "End-to-end postal delivery is expensive and the SNP has to do more than just say everything will be the same. Alex Salmond has many questions to answer. What would be the cost of sending letters inside and outside of Scotland? How would the jobs and pensions of Royal Mail staff be secured? And what would happen in areas of rural Scotland that are currently supported by a guaranteed UK-wide service."

The Scottish Government said that after independence deliveries would continue uninterrupted.

A spokesman said: "The existing methods of delivery available to the people of Scotland when sending mail to other parts of the UK will continue.

"We do not anticipate any significant change from the current UK-wide system.

"The Scottish Government has a clear commitment to maintain a universal service obligation."

But Labour described the response as vague.

In comments reported at the weekend a Department for Business spokesman said: "In the event of a Yes vote, UK public organisations would remain with the rest of the UK. It would be up to an independent Scotland to create new ones."

[hans solo]

and what was labours answer to rm before the last election PRIVATISE us thats what they starded the condem ball rolling its labours fault we are being sold off .
but they dont like reminded of that.
but a lot of us will never forget snp all the way

[DirtyHarry]

Just shows what a dishonest, corrupt, moronic shower, British politicians are.
Wherever you turn, whatever party you turn to, the electorate are lied to, deliberately mis-lead, deliberately mis-informed, and all by people whose only interest, is self-interest.
Should all be put up against a wall and shot.

[blue1873]

Just shows what a dishonest, corrupt, moronic shower, British politicians are.
Wherever you turn, whatever party you turn to, the electorate are lied to, deliberately mis-lead, deliberately mis-informed, and all by people whose only interest, is self-interest.
Should all be put up against a wall and shot.

Cant argue with that

[houseoflords]

Well said Dirty Harry, bunch of two faced liars.

[fishtank]

LABOUR want urgent answers from the SNP after a UK department suggested an independent Scotland would lose Royal Mail.

It won't lose anything.
It makes as much sense to say that Scotland would lose electricity or gas or railways.
It may have to be subsidised though but that is how the USO works now and will probably continue to be the case whether Scotland is part of the UK or not.
Just like anywhere in the UK where it costs more to deliver a letter than we charge.

Zonal pricing and a three day delivery week to anywhere north of Stirling would be my best guess as the final outcome....but that kind of solution won't just be for Scotland.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Well said Dirty Harry, bunch of two faced liars.

You missed opportunistic, misogynistic, peddlers of fear and taxes

[spoodoo]

Scotland didn't vote that millionaire egotistical private schoolboys in. Did they! The English voted them in

[SpacePhoenix]

If Scotland does gain independence then any mail going to or from Scotland from the UK would have to go via HWDC as international mailing regs and rules would apply and stuff coming from Scotland would have to be checked by customs

[fishtank]

If Scotland does gain independence then any mail going to or from Scotland from the UK would have to go via HWDC as international mailing regs and rules would apply and stuff coming from Scotland would have to be checked by customs

That would be a bit pointless since there are no plans for customs or border checks.
HMRC will continue to collect income tax on behalf of the Scottish Government(for a fee) and i would imagine that they will also deal with customs issues,since Royal Mail will be handling the items from sender to recipient it's likely that there would be any significant changes in the way mail is handled.