Declares that the Petitioners are opposed to the closure of the South Bank Delivery Service.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to ask Royal Mail to listen to residents and reconsider proposals to close the South Bank Delivery Office.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Ian Swales, Official Report, 10 July 2012; Vol. 548, c. 281.]
[P001107]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, received 20 July 2012:
Thank you very much indeed for presenting the petition on the proposed closure of the South Bank delivery office. The Government recognise that any changes to local delivery offices may raise concerns about the possible impact of such changes on local postal services.
The restructuring of Royal Mail’s delivery operations, not just in Redcar and the North-East, but right across the UK, forms part of Royal Mail’s transformation programme. This programme will ensure that the company has the right delivery infrastructure in the right locations to enable it to deliver the universal postal service as effectively and efficiently as possible. Given the very real challenges facing the business, such as the falling volumes of letters, modernisation and transformation of its delivery network is essential if it is to thrive and the universal postal service is to be maintained.
Responsibility for the restructuring is an operational matter which rests with Royal Mail’s senior management team.
When planning operational changes, the company always gives consideration to how best it can continue to protect the interests of its customers and ensure it delivers a high quality mail service. Restructuring plans are agreed in line with an internal consultation process with its staff and unions, but it is not required to consult publicly on proposals. However, the company endeavours to keep all interested stakeholders informed and updated during the decision making process.