Response to Consignia Claim

Hays PLC
4 July 2001

HAYS' RESPONSE TO CLAIM FROM CONSIGNIA
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Consignia  has issued legal proceedings against Hays plc seeking remedies  for
alleged  breach of Section 6 of the Postal Services Act 2000.  It  is  claimed
that  certain  services provided by Hays infringe Consignia's de facto  postal
monopoly.  The services in question relate mainly to the delivery of  tickets,
itineraries  and  invoices,  between travel  companies  and  their  respective
branches and agents.

Hays will vigorously defend the proceedings which Consignia want heard by  the
Court on Friday 6 July.

Hays  refutes  the  Consignia  claim  that  these  services  are  covered   by
Consignia's  de  facto  postal monopoly.  Hays has also applied  for  licences
under the new postal regime and it is expected that a decision on the grant of
these  licences will be announced by the early autumn. The grant  to  Hays  of
such licences would put the legal position beyond doubt.

The  claim made by Consignia affects only a small proportion of Hays' existing
mail  business; approximately £10 million of annualised turnover is  involved.
The long-standing Document Exchange (DX) service is not affected.

Neil Tregarthen, Managing Director at Hays Mail & Express Services, commented:
'Hays'  priority is to provide customers with the best and most cost effective
service   bringing  greater  competition,  innovation  and   choice   to   the
marketplace.   Hays believes that Consignia's attempts through  the  Court  to
stop  such  services  are  anti- competitive, against  the  interests  of  the
business  community  and  contrary to the  spirit  of  both  UK  and  European
legislation which is seeking to promote competition.

'As  we  enter the summer holiday season travel companies need to be confident
of being able to deliver tickets to their customers.  If Consignia was able to
satisfy these basic requirements there would not be such a high demand for our
services from travel companies.

'The services in question have been provided by Hays and its predecessors  for
many  years.  It is noteworthy that the action is being brought by  Consignia,
not  by  the  Postal Services Commission, which has direct responsibility  for
policing  the  Postal  Services Act.  Hays believes it is  both  sensible  and
reasonable,  in  the  interests of its customers, to continue  the  activities
pending  a  decision  from the Commission on its licence  applications.   Hays
believes  that  the  legal action Consignia has taken at  this  stage  of  the
licence application process is an opportunistic attempt to force us to concede
business to Consignia ahead of the grant of licences.'

Enquiries:

Graham Williams, Executive Director, Hays plc           01483 302 203
Jon Coles, Brunswick                                    020 7404 5959