PMs Letter - What a waste of money and resources

[MB140]

Just a general enquiry but why does the PM think that he should send a letter to every household in the country. Surely this is a giant waste of resource and expense when really there are far better option out there.

1) Email
2) Emergency Text Message
3) Have it read verbatim on TV and radio at a designated time.
4) Online

There can’t be that many people that have no access to all these options listed above.

How much does it cost in terms of raw materials, paper, ink, envelopes.

How much does it cost in terms of postage and delivery resources .

It seems like a giant financial burden on the state and thus the tax payer when the money could surely be better used on other things at this time.

All for something that seems to me to not be required.

Edited by MB140 on Sunday 29th March 16:03

Edited by MB140 on Sunday 29th March 16:04

[pip t]

It does seem a little odd - though there is precedent for it - didn't Cameron write to us all when he called a referendum?

[crankedup]

Because a letter carries a far more personal ‘we are all involved you are not alone’ message. Electronic messages do not carry that weight.

[dhutch]

It appears that way to us, granted, however a huge number of people still don't have email/internet and some of them don't have TV. At which point the mailshot is pence compared to the wide spend on and cost of this virus.

[bigandclever]

Costing £5.7 million to print and distribute. Government figure.

[Borghetto]

MB140 said:

Just a general enquiry but why does the PM think that he should send a letter to every household in the country. Surely this is a giant waste of resource and expense when really there are far better option out there.

1) Email
2) Emergency Text Message
3) Have it read verbatim on TV and radio at a designated time.
4) Online

There can’t be that many people that have no access to all these options listed above.

How much does it cost in terms of raw materials, paper, ink, envelopes.

How much does it cost in terms of postage and delivery resources .

It seems like a giant financial burden on the state and thus the tax payer when the money could surely be better used on other things at this time.

All for something that seems to me to not be required.

Edited by MB140 on Sunday 29th March 16:03

Edited by MB140 on Sunday 29th March 16:04

If this is all you've got to worry about - you must lead a charmed life.

[andy_s]

About £5M, or 0.015% of the Covid budget. Take your pick according to what you thought before.

[Pupp]

pip t said:

It does seem a little odd - though there is precedent for it - didn't Cameron write to us all when he called a referendum?

Yeah, and that went so well, didn't it

[MB140]

crankedup said:

Because a letter carries a far more personal ‘we are all involved you are not alone’ message. Electronic messages do not carry that weight.

That seems like a piss poor excuse to waste valuable resources and money at a time like this. I can though see your point about it carrying more weight to some other methods of communicating. I imagine to others it just seems like such a waste. Especially as this current government does like to promote its environmental green policy. I’m not sure how wasting vast resources goes arm in arm with that. I do though concede that these are unprecedented times and the green policy can take a back seat over saving lives.

[Cold]

It'll get sorted with the pizza menus and estate agent flyers.

[MB140]

andy_s said:

About £5M, or 0.015% of the Covid budget. Take your pick according to what you thought before.

I didn’t realise it would be so little. How much is 2nd class postage these days (shows how long since I actually sent a letter). Even at 50p what is it 40 millions households. I was expecting 10s of millions.

[dhutch]

I am sure if you're mail shoting the entire nation you get a discount on the stamps!

Can't break an omelet without eggs. Anyone who thinks the Covid19 thing isn't FU CKING HUGE yet has a big shock coming soon.

[petemurphy]

does seem pointless tbh and will go straight in the bin after being quarantined.

hope the infected boris hasnt signed them all personally

[MB140]

Borghetto said:

MB140 said:

Just a general enquiry but why does the PM think that he should send a letter to every household in the country. Surely this is a giant waste of resource and expense when really there are far better option out there.

1) Email
2) Emergency Text Message
3) Have it read verbatim on TV and radio at a designated time.
4) Online

There can’t be that many people that have no access to all these options listed above.

How much does it cost in terms of raw materials, paper, ink, envelopes.

How much does it cost in terms of postage and delivery resources .

It seems like a giant financial burden on the state and thus the tax payer when the money could surely be better used on other things at this time.

All for something that seems to me to not be required.

Edited by MB140 on Sunday 29th March 16:03

Edited by MB140 on Sunday 29th March 16:04

If this is all you've got to worry about - you must lead a charmed life.

Yes I will admit I do. I am also very aware of it and appreciate it greatly. Both my wife and I still have jobs and although my wife is in isolation for a week and me 14 days at the moment it won’t effect us vastly. For that I count my blessing.

I also feel great sympathy for those effected. I have volunteered to help out in the community and will so again once I have the all clear.

However I don’t have to act like a sanctimonious c**t. Berating people for asking/stating a point of view. If you have nothing helpful to contribute then why not try pulling your head out your ass.

[valiant]

petemurphy said:

does seem pointless tbh and will go straight in the bin after being quarantined.

hope the infected boris hasnt signed them all personally

Or licked the envelope!

Maybe that’s his plan to get us infected and thus self-isolate with more discipline.

[Solocle]

MB140 said:

andy_s said:

About £5M, or 0.015% of the Covid budget. Take your pick according to what you thought before.

I didn’t realise it would be so little. How much is 2nd class postage these days (shows how long since I actually sent a letter). Even at 50p what is it 40 millions households. I was expecting 10s of millions.

£5.7m really is pocket change for the government. But it does make sense - 2nd class letters need to be routed to the correct person, often involving being driven across the country. A mailshot like this would be the ultimate in wholesale discounts.

And, if they're not personally addressed, the postman is given a large number of letters, and just has to shove one through the door of each house. It probably involves far less work on Royal Mail's part.

Just take a look at the rates for advertising mail, and then remember that the government might have some form of deal Royal Mail.

[Riley Blue]

Having read the letter I don't think there's anything in it that we haven't already been told, perhaps the accompanying leaflet is the more important document.

[vixen1700]

dhutch said:

Anyone who thinks the Covid19 thing isn't FU CKING HUGE yet has a big shock coming soon.

Pretty sure there can't be many who think that.

It's all encompassing, if you put the news on, there is no other news. Can't vouch for newspapers as I don't read them.

I do fear they'll be a lot of people who really won't be able to cope and depression together with suicide rates will rise massively.

[MB140]

Solocle said:

MB140 said:

andy_s said:

About £5M, or 0.015% of the Covid budget. Take your pick according to what you thought before.

I didn’t realise it would be so little. How much is 2nd class postage these days (shows how long since I actually sent a letter). Even at 50p what is it 40 millions households. I was expecting 10s of millions.

£5.7m really is pocket change for the government. But it does make sense - 2nd class letters need to be routed to the correct person, often involving being driven across the country. A mailshot like this would be the ultimate in wholesale discounts.

And, if they're not personally addressed, the postman is given a large number of letters, and just has to shove one through the door of each house. It probably involves far less work on Royal Mail's part.

Just take a look at the rates for advertising mail, and then remember that the government might have some form of deal Royal Mail.

Thanks for that info. Royal Mail is obviously a private company. I’m assuming the government can’t just tell them to deliver it all for free. I still thought it would be more than £5m. Even at £5m, that is probably a lot of ventilators, ppe or other resources that would be better used to help fight covid-19.

Again thanks for the info.

[anonymous-user]

Judging by the amount of oldies going the wrong way round the one way system today at Tesco's it's aimed at those who don't have email or texts.