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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on Royal Mail’s decision to add barcodes to its postage stamps; and what assessment has been made of the impact of that decision on consumers with unused non-barcoded and Christmas stamps after they cease to be valid in January 2023.

The Department has regular discussions with Royal Mail on a wide range of issues. However, the development of stamp products is an operational matter for Royal Mail, a private company, and the Government is not involved in Royal Mail’s operational or commercial decisions.

Royal Mail launched a ‘Swap Out’ scheme for regular non-barcoded stamps on 31 March and has clarified that special issue and Christmas stamps will continue to be valid and will not need to be swapped out.

Further information about its plans for barcoded stamps is available on Royal Mail’s website: www.royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps.