Britain's Fire Sale - If It Ain't Nailed Down, Flog It!

[Gromit]

Search and rescue and the Royal Mint to be privatised. Undoubtly ending up in foreign ownership like our ex itility companies.

// Britain’s search and rescue operation is to be privatised.
Currently, it is run by the Royal Navy, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency and the RAF, which counts Prince William as one of its pilots at RAF Valley on Anglesey.

Both deals, which could feature in Wednesday’s Budget, come on top of the planned privatisations of the Royal Mint and Royal Mail and the rumoured sale of the Highways Agency.

They are part of the Government’s drive to boost the public finances by cashing in on state-owned assets. //

Anyone if favour of his?

[AB Editor]

Not at all.

[jake-the-peg]

They've been trying to privatise the royal mail for years don't tell me it's actually going to happen!

I'm sure Group 4 will pick up the Mint - what could possibly go wrong?

[ChillDoubt]

Saving lives.......brought to you by XYZ Insurance or some such other?


No thanks.

[youngmafbog]

I'd need to see more details of the intentions.

On the face of it I am struggling to see why anyone would buy it, I mean profits would be pretty limited (unless they charge per pickup).

[Gromit]

Youngmafbog,

Obviously the Government would still pay for this service, to a private contractor. It would be a guaranteed income stream for the french company that buys it.

[emmie]

where does it say it's a French company...

[emmie]

it doesn't say as yet who would be in the frame to get the contract

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jan/31/search-rescue-helicopters-privatisation-fears

[anotheoldgit]

And you just thought it was about Mark & Spencer?

See,

Is Britain Being Sold Off From Under Our Very Eyes?

[LazyGun]

These are currently publically owned "assets" for want of a better term, AoG - not privately owned companies, trading on the stockmarket and subject to the prevailing winds and currents of capitalism and global investment....

[Gromit]

Em10

Actually the buyer will probably be either, CHC a Canadian company or a US one.

[youngmafbog]

Yes Gromit, but how could expansion be achieved. A guranteed income stream is only FMing out the work. If you buy it shareholders will want a growing return so how would that work with the Mint and Search and rescue?

As for the Royal Mail, well I am not sure anyone in their right mind would want to buy a dying business. Letters will decease more and more and anything bigger is already handled by other companies.

[bookbinder]

Does this mean that a sailor who is in danger of drowning will be presented with a bill for his rescue?

[emmie]

Gromit, where do you get that info from, seeing there doesn't seem to be a link as to who?