Royal Mail: Universal Service Obligation Debate

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Department: Department for Business and Trade

Royal Mail: Universal Service Obligation

Ben Obese-Jecty Excerpts
Wednesday 11th March 2026

(1 day, 9 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Blair McDougall Portrait Blair McDougall
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My hon. Friend is right to speak on behalf of his constituents and demand better service. As for what we can do, as I said, we are working through the regulator to ensure that services improve, and I am meeting it later today. We are also intervening to bring together the workforce and management to ensure the talks that are crucial for making those improvements progress.

Ben Obese-Jecty Portrait Ben Obese-Jecty (Huntingdon) (Con)
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I concur with Members across the House that the fault does not lie with our individual posties. I pay tribute to Dean and Aaron, who have been fantastic as my posties in Brampton in my constituency. I have been written to by Royal Mail employees in my constituency about the new contract and the pressure that it puts on, with 50% of new postal workers leaving in their first year. Can the Minister guarantee that he will speak to Ofcom about equalising pay and conditions to ensure that we do not see as many staff leaving?

Blair McDougall Portrait Blair McDougall
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The question of equalising pay and conditions is a matter for those talks. That is why, through the Secretary of State, we are bringing together the owner and the trade unions to have those discussions. I also pay tribute to Dean and Aaron, who can now say that they have had their names mentioned at the Dispatch Box.