THE POSTAL regulator is set to back down in its dispute with Consignia over the opening up of the postal market by slowing down the introduction of competition to the Royal Mail.
The move, due to be announced next month by Postcomm, follows a warning last week from Consignia that first and second-class stamp prices may have to rise by 3p a year if its monopoly is broken up too quickly.
Royal Mail has introduced a new direct mail scheme, which has yet to be named. It is designed to make running a mailing as easy as booking a TV, radio or poster campaign. Through a dedicated booking centre, agencies, client companies and mailing houses will now be able to receive an upfront, all-inclusive price for each campaign – and no doubt many would say, “about time too”.
Read MoreRoyal Mail is advising customers that new prices for international postcards, letters, small packets and printed papers to destinations outside Europe come into effect on July 4th 2002.
The overall increase in prices is 4.8 which is within the Retail Price Index limits allowable under the terms of the operating licence issued to Consignia, Royal Mail’s holding company, by Postcomm.
Consignia press release
RESTRUCTURE OF LOSS MAKING PARCELS BUSINESS
RATIONALISATION OF TRANSPORT OPERATIONS TO CREATE MORE EFFICIENT SINGLE NETWORK
COMBINED COST SAVING OF £460 MILLION
FURTHER MANAGEMENT, SUPPORT SERVICE AND OPERATIONAL SAVINGS IDENTIFIED
15,000 JOBS TO GO, 13,000 THROUGH REDEPLOYMENT OR REDUNDANCY
Royal Mail today announced plans to price items by size rather than weight alone for the first time since stamps were introduced in 1840. The cost of sending a bulky parcel would increase under the new system, although the price of posting a standard size letter would remain the same or even fall, the company said. Increased automation in the postal service means larger items often having to be dealt with by hand at extra cost.
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