Plans to privatise the Royal Mail were announced today by business minister Michael Fallon, who said that: "it is increasingly being run as a commercial business, it has modernised thanks to the efforts of management and indeed the workforce. It's been turned round in the last two or three years and it's ready now to take its place as one of the great British companies.”

Ian Davidson, President of Pitney Bowes GMS, said: “The Royal Mail must support small to medium businesses in facing challenges as they seek to retain, acquire and cross-sell their services in a tough economic climate.  Without the support of metered mail and secure discounts, the Royal Mail’s services could be devalued due to the additional costs companies would have to absorb sending business mail.   If metered mail discounts are protected, then this privatisation is something Pitney Bowes is prepared to support.”