22 Jul 2002
A daily postal service to homes and premises six days a week, at an affordable uniform price will continue in Scotland - this was the assurance delivered by the postal regulator, Postcomm, to Scotland Office Minister Anne McGuire.
Speaking today after meeting with Postcomm's Chief Executive, Anne McGuire said:
"Postcomm have given me categorical assurances that a universal postal service will continue. This should send a message of reassurance to anyone worried about their mail delivery in Scotland, especially in rural areas.
"The Government has guaranteed the universal service obligation in law. This is defined as a daily postal service to the home or premises of every individual throughout the UK, except in a very limited number of cases where geographical conditions or other exceptional circumstances make this impracticable. The universal service will continue to be provided at an affordable price and determined by a public tariff uniform throughout the UK.
"There are changes taking place just now in the postal sector, but I am assured by Postcomm that they will take whatever steps are required to protect daily deliveries. If they find out that there is any threat to the universal service, Postcomm will take immediate action to address this."
Recent pilot schemes proposing changes to first and second post mail delivery patterns, and changes to business mail deliveries, will be monitored by Postcomm.
In addition, the Government has imposed a formal requirement on Consignia to maintain the rural post office network and to prevent avoidable closures, for the next four years.
NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS
1. Anne McGuire met with Martin Stanley, Chief Executive of Postcomm. Postcomm is an independent regulator. Its main tasks are to:
2. The maintenance of the universal postal services obligation is enshrined in the Postal Services Act 2000.
3. Postcomm (The Postal Services Commission) was established in the Postal Services Act 2000.
4. Consignia has a legal obligation to provide a universal postal service of deliveries six days a week to every home or premises in the UK, with a few rare exceptions. These include addresses where access is via difficult or dangerous terrain that poses a health and safety risk, or on islands which do not have a daily ferry service. 99.98% of all homes across the UK are delivered to.