Government to secure future of postal service

THE Government has published a Bill and detailed policy statement to secure the future of a successful publicly owned Royal Mail.   Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said the Postal Services Bill is vital to maintaining the 6 day a week, fixed price 'universal postal service', which is under threat.  The Bill keeps the post office in public ownership, while allowing for a strategic partner to bring experience and investment to transform the Royal Mail, with the Government taking on its pension deficit.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said the Government's plan was the only credible option to save the Royal Mail, which has been severely affected by decreasing mail volumes due to the rise of email and online technologies.   "Our policy will keep Royal Mail in the public sector and this legislation makes this clear. The Royal Mail will run out of money to sustain its current universal, 6 day service unless its pension fund deficit is solved and its business transformed.  Faced with this challenge, I am determined to protect the universal service and secure Royal Mail's future.    The public deserves the best possible mail service. And if we are asking the taxpayer to take on Royal Mail's huge pension deficit, it must deliver a full, improved letters service in return.  Royal Mail is lagging behind its international counterparts and this needs to change. A partnership must not just bring access to capital, it must bring expertise. A partner experienced in driving forward change in postal companies will help transform it."

The Government's policy will:-

► Enable a fund to be created, if it should be necessary to do so, to support the provision of the universal service.

► Allow for private sector investment for a minority shareholder to modernise the company, but with a firm commitment that the Royal Mail remains publicly owned. Primary legislation will be required for any future changes.

► Allow the Government to take on the pension deficit. This will secure staff's historic pensions, which the pension trustees have confirmed are at risk, while freeing Royal Mail from paying £280m per year to service this debt.

► Appoint Ofcom to regulate the postal services market and make upholding the universal service obligation its paramount duty in relation to postal services. It will regulate to ensure greater benefit for consumers and place postal services in a broader communications market context.

► Retain Government ownership of the Post Office and committing to helping it build a diversified, successful future.

► Ensure the Government's right to appoint the Chair and approve board appointments.

The Government's policy follows recommendations from Richard Hooper's independent review of postal services which reported in December 2008.  The report's stark findings warned that Royal Mail's precarious finances were placing the universal postal service in grave danger, with losses likely to rise. The report found major change is required at Royal Mail to adapt to the structural changes occurring in the market. However, the report predicts that, with the appropriate action, there is a positive future for postal services, with a range of trends creating new opportunities, including the growth of home-delivered on-line shopping online.

UNISON CALLS WATER COMPANIES TREATMENT OF STAFF AND INFLATION BUSTING BILL INCREASES ‘A DISGRACE’

UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector trade union, is calling the decision by water companies to impose inflation busting bill increases at the same time as cutting jobs and freezing pay “a disgrace”.  OFWAT has announced that the average families water bill is set to rise by 4.1% from April 2009.  Steve Bloomfield, UNISON Head of Utilities, said:- “Many low income families are already struggling to cope with the high price of fuel, electricity and food, and will be plunged into further debt by this inflation busting increases in water charges.  Our members have worked hard to make sure that water companies have increased efficiency and made decent profits. It is a disgrace that many water companies are now planning to cut staff and freeze pay.  Water companies are in a monopoly situation and protected by legislation that makes sure they can meet their costs, pay their staff and still make a profit. They should be doing their bit to support local communities and their staff cope with the economic crisis.”

Talented young scientists compete for top national award

ACCOMPLISHED young scientists from the North West are aiming to make a big impression at The Big Bang Fair – the UK’s first national fair celebrating young people’s achievements in both science and engineering. They will be competing with over 200 students from around the country for a number of prizes, including international experiences.

The fair takes place from 4 March 2009 to 6 March 2009 at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London and leads into National Science and Engineering Week. It is a fitting start to this 10 day national celebration of science and engineering which runs from 6 March 2009 to 15 March 2009 as, for the 1st time ever, 2, 13  to 19 year olds will be crowned UK Young Scientist of the Year and UK Young Technologist of the Year after making it through to the final of the government’s National Science Competition.

At the fair, students will exhibit their CREST Award and National Science Competition research projects alongside finalists of the Young Engineer for Britain and other competitions, and the event will also see nearly nine thousand people - including school groups and teachers – experiencing exhibitions, shows and workshops that showcase UK research and the huge range of career opportunities that science and technology have to offer.

Students from the following schools in the North West are competing in the National CREST Final at the Fair. In the case of older students who have finished school, their hometown is listed. The older students who completed Silver and Gold Level CREST projects will also be competing in the National Science Competition:-

Bronze Level:-

► Wirral Grammar School for Boys, Bebington, Wirral
► St Georges RC High School, Manchester

Silver Level:-

► Cockermouth School, Cumbria
► Calday Grange Grammar School, West Kirby, Wirral

Gold Level:-

► St Edward’s College, Liverpool
► Upton Hall FCJ, Upton, Wirral
► Kirbie Kendal School, Kendal, Cumbria
► Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School, Cheshire
► Withington Girls’ School, Manchester
► The Manchester Grammar School, Manchester
► Mahin Ahmad from Heswall
► Mathew Smith from Bromborough
► Michael Aspinall and Emma Taylor from Neston

Students from the following schools in the North West have entered the National Science Competition directly after completing other science and technology projects:-

► Childwall School, Liverpool, Merseyside
► Altrincham Girls Grammar School, Altrincham, Cheshire

The National CREST Final will include science and technology awards that include prize money for both themselves and their schools, behind the scene trips to research labs, expenses paid trips to represent the UK at illustrious international science and engineering fairs in Paris, Sweden and the US, and an international expedition courtesy of the Royal Society.

The 2 National Science Competition winners, in addition to becoming young ambassadors for UK science, will receive £5000 prize-money and a laptop, an international once-in-a-lifetime trip and opportunities to represent UK youth science and engineering at events and visits in the UK and abroad, including a visit to the cutting-edge research facility, Diamond Light Source.

The British Science Association manages the CREST Awards and is coordinating the National Science Competition on behalf of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). The Association is part of the ‘Science: [So What? So Everything]’ campaign which aims to show people how science benefits our everyday lives, is crucial in strengthening the UK economy and meeting some of the major challenges of our time. For more information please visit:- direct.gov.uk/sciencesowhat.

The British Science Association would like to thank Lloyd's Register Educational Trust, the John Innes Centre, Research Councils UK, the Nuffield Foundation, Intel Education and the Royal Society for sponsoring CREST prizes.