Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November to Question 92301 on Postal Services: Standards, what assessment he has made of the implications for customers of Ofcom’s decision to retain the Christmas exemption period.

As the independent regulator, it is for Ofcom to explain the decisions it takes on the regulatory framework. However, in coming to its decision to retain the exemption for the Christmas period, Ofcom carefully considered consultation responses including from consumer bodies. Ofcom will closely monitor Royal Mail’s performance this Christmas, and it reserves the right to propose further action in this area if necessary.