It beggars belief that the Bill will have such a fundamental impact. I have been lobbied not only be postmen and postwomen and postmistresses and postmasters but by trade union representatives, who have made solid cases. They asked us to look over our shoulders to our nearest neighbour, Britain. Evidence from across Europe, including Germany, the Netherlands and the UK where liberalisation has already occurred, indicates that the opening of the postal market results in the erosion of service levels and job losses.

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