Quick change for mail privatisation • The prospect of a
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rapid privatisation of Royal Mail emerged this week although the Board of Trade president Michael Heseltine stressed there have been no decisions taken so far.
Consultants conducting a review of the Post Office for the Department of Trade and Industry say if the Government decides to reduce the letters monopoly and privatise Royal Mail the process could happen very quickly. "If the Government were to change things it would do it well before 1997—you tend to keep away from likely election dates," a source says.
The consultants have already given ministers the green light to privatise Royal Mail, arguing the transport operator is a good candidate for a sell-off. Flotation or a buyout are seen as front runners. It has already been decided that Parcelforce will be sold.
However, press reports this week that decisions have been taken on the structure of the industry and the type of sell-off of Royal Mail, have been scotched by sources close to the review and Heseltine himself.