Believe it or not, but away from the plugs, pools and paddocks, and all the other items related to the parliamentary expenses disclosure, our legislators are still busy at work. Just before 9.25pm last night, the Report Stage of the Postal Services Bill was completed. This is, of course, the Bill that will enable, amongst other things, the restructuring of Royal Mail Group. The Bill has stirred up lots of passions, not least from one peer, a former postal union leader, who had attempted to kill off the Bill by declining to give it a second reading.

The Bill now moves on to its Third Reading in the Lords, where, if completed, it will head down the corridor to the Commons and no doubt to a stormy reception (almost 180 Labour MPs have signed a parliamentary motion opposing the part-privatisation). As such, the Government has its work cut out if it is going to keep with its aim of turning the Bill into an Act by the time Parliament rises for the summer (21 July).

However, it would appear that the UK is not the only Government in a pickle over postal privatisation. Across the channel, proposals for the privatisation of La Poste have been postponed until after the European elections. As reported in Postal Technology, the French Government wants to change the status of La Poste from a ‘public institution’ to a ‘corporation’. Unions have welcomed this delay, saying it will give them more time to rally against the plans.

So, which Government will be the first to make their respective plans happen? Place your bets…

Technorati Tags: legislation, postal services

Tags: legislation, postal services

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