We’ve been clear with Royal Mail and Ofcom
Royal Mail’s six-day delivery service must continue, a business minister has said, as the group proposes cuts.
The postal service put forward proposals in April that would see a dramatic reduction in second-class letter deliveries. Regulator Ofcom is currently consulting on the group’s reforms which are not expected to impact first-class mail.
In the Commons yesterday, Kevin Hollinrake urged Royal Mail to abandon its plans to reduce the service. And Conservative former minister David Mundell argued that a reduction in services would negatively affect elderly residents in rural areas.
The Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale MP said: “Are ministers as concerned as I am about continued reports that Royal Mail are determined to move away from a sixday service?
“In a large rural constituency like mine, with an older population, people continue to rely on the Royal Mail for important communications.
“So can the minister make clear that this is not the direction of travel that the Government wants to see Royal Mail going?”
During business and trade questions, Mr Hollinrake replied: “We absolutely agree with his point. We have been very clear with Royal Mail, and indeed with Ofcom, the regulator, that we want to see a continued six-day service.
“And the Royal Mail, and hopefully Ofcom, will have heard what he’s said today and what we have said today – the six-day service must continue.”
Liberal Democrat business spokeswoman Sarah Olney branded the plans a “slap in the face for families being asked to pay more for less”. “It risks creating a cost-ofpostage crisis, as people feel forced to pay for first class stamps because second class delivery days are being slashed,” she added.