TNT calls on government to deregulate postal services
DUTCH-OWNED post group TNT yesterday called on the government to lift anti-competitive barriers that prevent it from launching a service to rival Royal Mail.
As the state-owned postal service gears up for a national strike – set to start on Thursday – TNT wants provisions that exempt Royal Mail from paying value added tax to be removed.
It has been trialling a so-called “final mile” delivery service in Liverpool for 18 months, but will not roll the service out nationwide unless it sees “a level playing field” in the market.
Private mail operators have seen their busiest week ever in the run-up to the strikes, and a move to launch a rival network of postmen and women would further undermine an already fragile Royal Mail.
But Royal Mail said there was already room for competition.