Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will meet representatives of Royal Mail to discuss adherence to the universal service obligation.

Ministers and officials meet with Royal Mail regularly to discuss a range of issues in relation to its role as the universal postal service provider, including the overall provision of the universal service obligation.

I recently met the CEO of Royal Mail’s parent company to raise concerns about Royal Mail’s performance and he recognised that the current level of service is not good enough and has said that improving quality of service is his top priority. I note that Royal Mail has recruited an additional 3,000 postmen and is continuing to actively recruit new postal staff. I will continue to raise the issue if service levels do not improve.