Comments on: Speed up Post Office management, Lord Mandelson http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/12/14/speed-up-post-office-management-lord-mandelson/ Incisive and topical campaigns and commentary on today's issues and tomorrow's problems Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:05:58 +0000 hourly 1 By: Will Rees http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/12/14/speed-up-post-office-management-lord-mandelson/#comment-9029 Will Rees Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:38:15 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=2374#comment-9029 Have been thinking about the proposed part privatisation of Royal Mail. Can I ask if the State abdicating its responsibilites would have any implication for postal votes? Have been thinking about the proposed part privatisation of Royal Mail. Can I ask if the State abdicating its responsibilites would have any implication for postal votes?

]]> By: Lola http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/12/14/speed-up-post-office-management-lord-mandelson/#comment-9028 Lola Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:53:41 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=2374#comment-9028 Careful with the £7Bn 'shortfall. It depends on how you measure it. I agree that it does have a shortfall but what it exactly is will never be known with what would be considered by the layman as certainty. The quantum of the shortfall is very sensitve to small changes in the factors used in calculating the 'shortfall'. And the PO is being required to make eye watering contributions to the scheme to fund this 'shortfall' which adds hugely to its problems. The whole private company defined benefit pension scheme universe in the UK is in a mess because of these calculations are taken as Gospel. The history of such forecasting by the GAD and the various regulatory 'systems' since 1986 is nothing short of a scandal. It has seemed to me to be largely 'think of a number' based on how the wind is blowing today. Careful with the £7Bn ‘shortfall. It depends on how you measure it. I agree that it does have a shortfall but what it exactly is will never be known with what would be considered by the layman as certainty. The quantum of the shortfall is very sensitve to small changes in the factors used in calculating the ‘shortfall’. And the PO is being required to make eye watering contributions to the scheme to fund this ‘shortfall’ which adds hugely to its problems. The whole private company defined benefit pension scheme universe in the UK is in a mess because of these calculations are taken as Gospel. The history of such forecasting by the GAD and the various regulatory ‘systems’ since 1986 is nothing short of a scandal. It has seemed to me to be largely ‘think of a number’ based on how the wind is blowing today.

]]> By: Lola http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/12/14/speed-up-post-office-management-lord-mandelson/#comment-9027 Lola Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:46:25 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=2374#comment-9027 Yep. Exactly. I'm one of them. Yep. Exactly. I’m one of them.

]]> By: Rare Breed http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/12/14/speed-up-post-office-management-lord-mandelson/#comment-9026 Rare Breed Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:07:22 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=2374#comment-9026 Totally agree with Lola. Has there ever been an efficient public service delivered by a monopoly? Emails are free, as technology advances the postal service will be limited to parcels and sensitive documents, much more suited to competition. Let them charge thier own rates. Royal mail should be forced to accept competition and all post offices should offer a choice of mail service providers, with varying services and prices. There is no incentive to reform without competition. Totally agree with Lola.

Has there ever been an efficient public service delivered by a monopoly?

Emails are free, as technology advances the postal service will be limited to parcels and sensitive documents, much more suited to competition. Let them charge thier own rates. Royal mail should be forced to accept competition and all post offices should offer a choice of mail service providers, with varying services and prices.

There is no incentive to reform without competition.

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