Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Seventh Report of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee entitled Royal Mail, published on 17 March 2023, HC 1045, whether she plans to take steps with Ofcom to ensure that their investigation into Royal Mail (a) takes a multi-year approach and (b) accepts evidence from postal workers.

The Government’s objective continues to be ensuring the provision of a sustainable, accessible and affordable universal postal service.

It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to set and monitor Royal Mail’s service standards and decide how to use its powers to investigate and take enforcement action should Royal Mail fail to achieve its obligations without good justification. The Government has no role in Ofcom’s regulatory investigations.

Ofcom continues to monitor Royal Mail’s performance against its universal service obligation to ensure it is providing the best service it can to customers.