The Institute of Public Policy Research, Labour’s favourite think-tank, will tomorrow urge the Government to consider privatising Britain’s postal service. In a report written by Dan Corry, the one-time special adviser to former Transport Secretary Stephen Byers, the IPPR will claim that in public hands the Royal Mail may be unable to compete in the deregulated postal market.
Read MoreThe US Postal Service is expanding its agreement with Royal Mail Group’s parcel delivery company, General Logistics System (GLS) for delivery of Global Express Mail (GEM) to Europe from 6 to 14 countries. GLS currently delivers GEM items to 6 countries: Austria, Denmark, Germany, France, Netherlands, and Sweden. The 8 additional countries to which GLS will deliver GEM items effective March 29, 2003, are Belgium, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, San Marino, Switzerland, and Vatican City. Note that San Marino and the Vatican City are being added to the countries that can be reached using GEM.
Read MoreAfter receiving new information from Royal Mail, and details of a strengthened audit procedure, Postcomm has decided not to issue a Final Order in relation to Royal Mail’s quality of service within individual postcodes. Postcomm issued notice of its intent to make a Final Order on 7 February after figures provided by Royal Mail indicated that the company was not likely to achieve the targets which require all individual postcodes to deliver 90% of first class post next day in February/March 2003. New information provided by Royal Mail, and confirmed by Postwatch and its auditors, Deloitte and Touche, shows the Royal Mail’s service quality is significantly better than it originally reported.
Read MoreLast ditch efforts will be made today to prevent the dispute between Royal Mail and the postal regulator over letter prices from being referred to the Competition Commission for a six-month inquiry. Adam Crozier, the Royal Mail’s new chief executive, is to meet the full board of commissioners at Postcomm in a final attempt to reach agreement on the proposed 1p increase in first and second class postage prices. Royal Mail has until midnight tomorrow to decide whether to accept Postcomm’s three-year price curbs or appeal to the Competition Commission.
Read MoreGraham Corbett, the postal regulator criticised for bringing Royal Mail to the brink of bankruptcy, will not have his contract renewed by the government.
The decision, expected to be confirmed in a House of Commons statement today, is widely viewed in the industry as a sign that ministers wish to see a new era of lighter-touch regulation. However, Mr Corbett, 68, insists he intended to stand down at the end of his three-year term as chairman of the Postal Services Commission.
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