Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions officials in her Department have had with the Royal Mail Group PLC on installing post boxes on new housing estates.

The installation of post boxes on housing estates is an operational matter for Royal Mail as an independent business. The Government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s operational decisions.

Ofcom, as the independent regulator for the postal sector, requires Royal Mail to ensure there is a post box within half a mile of the premises of at least 98% of users of postal services. Royal Mail is also required to report annually to Ofcom the number of customer complaints received about the provision and/or location of post boxes.