Budget cuts 'could hit printers'

Sweeping cuts across the public sector expected to be announced in next Tuesday's emergency Budget could put some in-house printers and print companies supplying local and central government under pressure.

The Government is expected to trim billions of pounds from state spending as it seeks to reduce the UK's massive budget deficit.

Small-scale, council-run printing departments could be worst hit in the cuts, but larger, more efficient council services and private sector companies are expected to be more resistant to the money saving initiatives.

Anthony Evans, president of the Association of Print and Communication Managers, who also runs the print facility at Swansea City and County Council, said that if an in-house plant can prove it is cheaper than outsourcing the work, local authorities will have to retain the services.

He said: "If you can add value, offering services such as transactional mailing, and you are integrated into the authority then you aren't going to be affected too badly. It is the smaller in-house plants that are perhaps just a machine that are in danger, if it is just an additional service they are ripe for an attack."

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