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Postal Services: Universal Service Obligation

Question for Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

UIN 102799, tabled on 5 December 2022

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department plans to consult (a) businesses and (b) domestic consumers on whether to amend the Postal Services Act 2011 to allow Royal Mail to operate a five-day letter delivery service.

Answered on

13 December 2022

The Government has no current plans to change the statutory minimum requirements of the universal postal service which are set out in the Postal Services Act 2011.

Ofcom, the statutory regulator for postal services, conducted a user needs review in 2020 which included consultation with businesses and domestic consumers. It concluded that 97% of Small and Medium sized enterprises, and residential consumers combined felt that 5 days of letter delivery was sufficient for their needs.

Answered by

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy