Asked by: Stuart Blair Donaldson (Scottish National Party - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans he has to ensure that the Royal Mail's universal service obligation continues to be met.
Answered by Anna Soubry
Government is committed to securing a sustainable universal postal service for the UK.
Parliament has given Ofcom, as an independent regulator, the primary statutory duty to secure the provision of a universal postal service - the collection and delivery of letters six days a week throughout the UK at uniform affordable prices - and to have regard for its financial sustainability.
Ofcom has introduced a comprehensive monitoring regime which is forward looking, based on the plans of Royal Mail and other postal operators, to track Royal Mail’s performance and potential impacts on the provision of the universal service.
Ofcom recently announced a fundamental review of the regulation of Royal Mail. The review will ensure regulation remains appropriate and sufficient to secure the universal postal service.
Asked by: Stuart Blair Donaldson (Scottish National Party - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make an assessment of Royal Mail's effectiveness in meeting the universal service obligation in Aberdeenshire.
Answered by Anna Soubry
Royal Mail as the designated Universal Service Provider for the whole of the UK provides the same service for almost all communities and businesses in Scotland, including in Aberdeenshire, as it does across the UK.
The Government has ensured that a strong regulatory framework is in place to protect the universal postal service. The primary statutory duty of Ofcom, the independent regulator for postal services, is to secure the provision of the universal postal service. Specifically, one of the safeguards of the regulatory framework is an effective and ongoing monitoring regime to track Royal Mail’s performance (for example, on quality of service and affordability of universal services, and progress on efficiency).
Asked by: Stuart Blair Donaldson (Scottish National Party - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he plans to reply to the letter to him dated 13 May 2015 from the hon. Members for Aberdeen North, Aberdeen South and West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine regarding an Aberdeen City Region Deal.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
A reply was sent on 22 June.