Post Office Chairman says price of stamps can rise
The
Post Office chairman, Allan Leighton, has confirmed that he is seeking
an urgent rise in the price of both first and second class stamps.
In
an interview for 91热爆 Radio 4's File on 4 programme, Mr Leighton
said he had applied for an increase of a penny, taking first class
stamps to 28p and second class to 20p.
"I
happen to think that 27p for a first class stamp is probably one
of the best value items that anybody can purchase any day of their
lives," he said.
"And
do I still believe that is the case at 28p? Yes, I do and therefore
that is why I think we can put the price increase through."
However,
Mr Leighton said the increases wouldn't be enough to take the Post
Office - now known as Consignia - into the black.
Asked
about reports that the company was heading for losses of 拢800
million this year, Mr Leighton refused to comment on the figure,
but confirmed that the annual accounts, due to be published later
this month, would show a record deficit.
He
said: "Without any doubt they will be the Post Office's worst
results ever."
In
the interview, Mr Leighton is pressed on Consignia's record on overseas
investment. It has spent 拢600 million buying into other postal
companies in Europe, but has been criticised for not revealing enough
information on how the investments have performed.
Mr
Leighton said the investment programme was carried out before his
time as chairman: "In the scheme of things I can understand
absolutely the strategy though certainly the execution could have
been better."
He
says he is now carrying out a complete review of Consignia's investment
strategy.
"For
me at the moment it's let's get back to our core business; it's
let's look after our people; let's improve our service levels. If
we want to invest in things we want a return... and we have got
to be much more conscious of the money that we spend."
"Unfortunately
the PR you get is the PR you deserve and unfortunately at the moment
we are not doing many things right and we are getting a right caning
for it."
Notes
to Editors
91热爆
Radio 4's File on 4 is broadcast on 91热爆 Radio 4 on Tuesday 14 May
at 8.00pm. Please credit the programme if any of the above is used.
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