Sales of stamps to collectors

Dear Mr Johnson

Thank you for your request for information received on 03/07/2009, which
we are considering under the Freedom of Information Act. Under the Act
you should expect a reply from us to be sent by 31/07/2009, which is
twenty working days from receipt of your request.

If for any reason we are unable to provide you with a full response within
that time, we will contact you explaining the reasons for this and giving
a revised date by which we will reply.

If in the mean time you have any questions or would like to contact us
about your request, please contact us by telephone 01252 806513 or
alternatively email or write to us at the address below. Please be
assured that we are giving this our attention and will get back to you
shortly.

Yours sincerely

John Cere
[1][Royal Mail Group request email]
Freedom of Information Unit
PO Box 341, ALDERSHOT, GU11 1WW

Royal Mail is a trading name of Royal Mail Group Ltd. Registered in
England and Wales.
Registered number 4138203. Registered office at 148 Old Street, LONDON
EC1V 9HQ

References

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1. mailto:[Royal Mail Group request email]

Dear Mr Johnson

I am writing in response to your email dated 3^rd July 2009 regarding
sales of Royal Mail Philatelic products. You requested the following
information under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act:

"I would like to know please the annual value of stamps and philatelic
products sold to collectors, e.g. mint stamps, first day covers,
presentation packs, albums and all similar products, whether sold through
the Philatelic Bureau in Edinburgh or by any other method, including
newspaper advertising."

"I would also like to know the profit made by Royal Mail on those sales
and the approximate percentage of Royal Mail's profits that represents."

We do hold relevant information regarding Philatelic Sales. However, this
information is considered to be exempt from disclosure under s43 of the
Freedom of Information Act *** Prejudice to Commercial Interests.

In relation to philatelic products, Royal Mail operates in a market where
there is direct competition from independent businesses where mint stamps
are purchased from Royal Mail and can be resold as loose stamps or as part
of a value-added product, which is known as the secondary market.
Disclosure of sales information would be likely to affect the commercial
interests of Royal Mail and other parties involved in the secondary market
of philatelic sales. Providing information on Royal Mail***s sales and
profit margins in this area to our competitors would put Royal Mail at a
clear commercial disadvantage.

We accept that there may be public interest in Royal Mail***s financial
performance but believe this is met through the publication of our annual
Reports & Accounts. In relation to philatelic products, the information
relates to a commercial product, we believe that public interest in favour
of its disclosure is therefore less. At the same time, there is wider
public interest in the financial well-being of Royal Mail Group (as a
publicly owned company), and in ensuring that normal market forces apply
in commercial markets.

I am sorry that your request cannot be met on this occasion. However, if
you are dissatisfied with this response for any reason you do have a right
to request an internal review, in which case please write to the Head of
Information Compliance, Royal Mail Group, Company Secretary's Office, 100
Victoria Embankment, LONDON, EC4Y 0HQ. An internal panel will then review
the decision, and you will be advised of the outcome.

If, having requested an internal review by Royal Mail, you are still not
satisfied with our response you also have a right of appeal to the
Information Commissioner at:
Information Commissioner***s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Telephone: 01625 545 700
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

John Cere
Freedom of Information Case Officer
[1][Royal Mail Group request email]

References

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1. mailto:[Royal Mail Group request email]