Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the change in mail volumes to the universal service provider in the NW postcode area as a result of end-to-end competition.

Under the Postal Services Act 2011, Parliament gave Ofcom, as an independent regulator, the powers and tools it needs to assess risks to the universal service and to take appropriate action if the provision of the universal service is ever at serious risk.

Ofcom has a comprehensive monitoring regime in place and it has the powers to take appropriate action if it considers the universal service to be at risk. More information about Ofcom's regulatory regime can be found on its website (www.ofcom.org.uk).