Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Trade and Industry – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 1 May 1991.
That is exactly why the monopoly is a privilege and not a right. That is why it is always appropriate for the Post Offfice—which is responsible for operational matters—to examine every part of its activity to see whether more choice and value for money, and better quality, are possible. Opposition Members, of course, never accept that. They are the reactionaries, the Bourbons of this debate; we are the Orléanistes, the pragmatists, ready to consider any kind of proposal from the Post Ofice that is aimed at improving the quality of service for the customer.