Govt: 'Protecting the universal mail service comes at a cost'
– Department for Business, Innovation and Skills SpokespersonPrice rises are never welcome.
However Ministers are clear that the top priority is to protect the universal service on which people rely.
Indeed we have enshrined – in law – the six day a week, one price goes anywhere service and given Ofcom as the regulator the duty of protecting that service.
But this service comes at a cost, and its provider, Royal Mail, needs to be financially viable.
The most important thing is to secure the universal service, but price rises are only one part of the story, the successful modernisation of Royal Mail is also crucial.
Stamp price hike met by criticism
The price of a first class stamp is to rise by 30 per cent to 60p.
Stamp on price rises ...say the unions
There is a bigger picture to today's stamp price rises - creating a Royal Mail that is ripe for sell off.
Investments: we’ve got it licked
So can you make a profit by selling stamps on after the price rise?