Member of Parliament for North Ayrshire and Arran Katy Clark has welcomed the decision by the Government not to press ahead with its plans to sell a minority stake in Royal Mail to a private company. The Government had initially planned to pass legislation in the current Parliamentary session paving the way for such a move but Lord Mandelson, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has announced that the proposed sale is now to be put on hold due to the current economic climate.
The local MP had been an outspoken critic of the proposals in Parliament and had actively campaigned against the privatisation plans included in the Postal Services Bill. She had met with Lord Mandelson on a number of occasions to outline her opposition and made clear she would vote against the Postal Services Bill if it contained the privatisation plans. Ms. Clark had also signed Early Day Motions 428 and 1641 opposing the plans.
Speaking on the subject the local MP said “I am pleased that plans to part-privatise Royal Mail appear to have been shelved. Privatisations of public services have often led to poor quality service provision, higher prices or both and I am very concerned about the effect any sale of a stake in Royal Mail would have had on this vital service upon which so many people in North Ayrshire and Arran depend”
“It appears the Government has listened to all those who have raised concerns on the subject however it is essential that now they are not going ahead in the near future these proposals are scrapped altogether. I will be doing all I can in Parliament to try and ensure that this occurs”