SNP CONDEMN POST PRIVATISATION PLAN

For immediate release – Wednesday 27 October 2010




Attn: NEWS DESKS


POLITICAL CORRESPONDENTS


SNP Business and Enterprise spokesperson Mike Weir MP has spoken out against privatisation of Royal Mail today (Wednesday) during the second reading of the Postal Services Bill, warning over the threat to the universal service obligation and the rural post office network.


Mr Weir said:


“It is simply inconceivable that the universal service obligation could survive in its current form after privatisation, and Vince Cable has already indicated that he is prepared to reduce the six day a week service.


“Royal Mail is a vital public service and the maintenance of the Universal Service Obligation is essential for communities and small businesses throughout Scotland. Many small businesses rely on Royal Mail and any threat to it could be disastrous at a time of recession when it is essential to support small local businesses.



“This Bill is totally unworkable and raises more questions than it answers. What it does make clear is how far the Tories and Liberal Democrats are prepared to go, with no upper limit on how much of the business can be sold-off. Even Labour’s Lord Mandelson offered to insert a legislative guarantee that only 33% could be privatised.



“The maintenance of a comprehensive mail delivery service is essential for Scotland and that could best be achieved by keeping the company in public ownership. We have already seen the chaos that has overtaken the Post Office network by the rush to "liberalisation".


“Only this week the government has spoken of the need to increase broadband access in rural areas. All too often the Royal Mail is seen as old fashioned – Postman Pat and his black and white cat touring Greendale as opposed to the brave new world of Broadband. Yes business
in rural areas would benefit enormously from fast broadband access, but you cannot send goods down a telephone line, or a fibre optic cable, unless some entrepreneur comes up with Star Trek transporters we still require a physical delivery service to go up and down dale and glen to pick up and deliver physical objects and, at the moment, the only company that will guarantee to do that is the Royal Mail.


“If we are to encourage the regeneration of our rural areas, to create new jobs in the new green economy then we have to take this on board and do nothing that would undermine this service.



“Royal Mail cannot be viewed as just another company. It provides an essential public service, especially to smaller communities and small businesses who do not have access to alternative carriers.”


ENDS