Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of the privatisation of Royal Mail on (a) residential properties and (b) businesses in Scotland.

Royal Mail was privatised in October 2013. Regardless of ownership, Royal Mail as the designated Universal Service Provider for the United Kingdom is required to deliver the universal postal service in accordance with minimum requirements set by Parliament and quality of service standards set by Ofcom, the postal services regulator.

Royal Mail publishes reports on its quality of service each quarter on its website. Ofcom closely monitors Royal Mail’s quality of service to ensure that service standards are maintained throughout the country.