In a survey of more than 5,000 of its members by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), 48% said they wanted Royal Mail to continue to be publicly owned.
However, just over a quarter of those surveyed said they would support semi-privatisation if it meant that further post office closures could be prevented.
The business lobby group’s survey comes ahead of tomorrow’s deadline to set out plans for an overhaul of Royal Mail, including selling a stake to a rival operator, which has already provoked protests from unions and Labour backbenchers.
The government has given assurances that the post office network will remain in public ownership because it continues to need subsidy support.
Royal Mail has just completed a closure programme of 2,500 branches, which has hit the small business sector, the FSB said, with 20% reporting that post handling takes longer.
“We have already seen more than 2,500 post offices closed over the past year – any more closures will have an even more damaging effect on small businesses that use its services daily,” said Clive Davenport, chairman of the FSB’s trade and industry group.
“Yet the current system is not operating efficiently, which is leaving small businesses wasting valuable time travelling to another post office or waiting in queues,” he added.
More than 80% of respondents said that if their post office closed, it would have a significant impact on their business. "The FSB is urging the Government to ensure we have a fully operating postal service to serve the needs of our 4.7 million small businesses."
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2009