Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether he was consulted on the decision to restrict the last collection time at Royal Mail post boxes to 9 am; and how many post boxes across the country are subject to this decision.

The Government does not have any role in Royal Mail’s operational decisions. Providing Royal Mail operate their services in compliance with the existing regulatory framework, as set down by Ofcom, decisions relating to their services can be made on operational grounds.

Royal Mail points out that the new arrangements relating to collections are needed in response to declining letter volumes which has left many post-boxes no longer covering their costs. Rather than decommission uneconomic post-boxes, the company is committed to ensuring their viability by improving the efficiency of collections arrangements.

Royal Mail have said that the majority of post-boxes will retain a 4pm or later final collection, as they have now, and they will ensure that there is a late-posting box within half a mile of each post-box that is restricted to earlier collections. The company is also aiming to boost public access to post-boxes in those areas around the country currently underserved with the addition of 2,000 new post-boxes. These will be targeted at rural areas, with a particular focus on Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as to areas of new development that are currently not served by a post-box. Some will be added in high footfall areas such as train stations and shopping centres. More information about Royal Mail’s post box network can be found on its website

(http://www.royalmail.com/personal/help-and-support/postboxes-faqs).