Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether they have made an assessment of the potential merits of making couriers jointly liable with retailers for (a) losses, (b) delays and (c) mis-deliveries.

The department has not made any such assessment as we believe current liability provisions are clear. When a consumer purchases a product, the contract is with the seller, not the delivery company. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the seller is responsible for delivery of goods bought online until they are in the consumer’s possession.

In addition, under the Digital Markets, Competition & Consumers Act 2024, an invitation to purchase is between the trader and consumer, and traders must not mislead consumers about delivery arrangements.