Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect on mail volumes to the universal service provider in the HA postcode area of London of end-to-end competition; and if he will make a statement.

Parliament gave Ofcom, as an independent regulator for postal services, the powers and tools it needs to assess the effects of competition on the provision of the universal service and to take appropriate action if the universal service is ever found to be at risk from competition.

Ofcom has an effective monitoring regime in place, which includes a notification condition requiring end-to-end competitors to inform them of plans relating to delivery volumes.

Ofcom recently reviewed and assessed all the evidence on competition in the postal market and concluded that the universal postal service is not under any current threat from the effects of competition. It will however continue to track Royal Mail’s performance and ongoing developments in the market. More information about Ofcom’s regulatory regime can be found on its website (www.ofcom.org.uk).