Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will take legislative steps to require Royal Mail to (a) notify Ofcom of and (b) publish live data on ongoing failures to maintain the universal service obligation.

Ofcom has powers to monitor Royal Mail’s performance and requires the business to publish quarterly reports and an annual summary of its performance against its delivery service targets. In its review of postal regulation last year, Ofcom decided that the existing quality of service standards for universal service products remain appropriate. It noted that it receives regular information from Royal Mail, including at delivery office-level, which allow it to engage with the company and exert pressure when necessary.