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TNT rethinks mail service

7th November 1996
Page 10
Page 10, 7th November 1996 — TNT rethinks mail service
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by Karen Miles • The company which has given loudest support to a privatised letters market admits that the chances of private carriers competing for mail by the end of the century are slim.

TNT says a general election in the next few months and the prospect of a Labour government are effectively ruling out any chance of a long-term suspension, or removal, of Royal Mail's monopoly in the letters market.

Alan Jones, TNT's managing-director, says: "The end of the monopoly would need primary legislation and with an election coming up that is not going to happen now. I very much doubt if a Labour government would make these changes."

Despite an earlier enthusiastic welcome for any shortterm suspension of the monopoly, Jones says he cannot now commit his company to running a planned letter delivery trial in the Midlands if there is a suspension.

He had hoped the trial would encourage the government to instigate a permanent end to Royal Mail's monopoly.

Only a permanent end would justify the enormous expenditure necessary for setting up an alternative mail service, says Jones.

President of the board of trade Ian Lang says he will suspend the monopoly for three months if Royal Mail staff resume their strike action.

Royal Mail carries 70 million letters a day and is the only organisation allowed to collect and deliver a letter for less than

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Organisations: Labour government

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