Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to ensure that the Universal Service Obligation applies to rural areas.

The government is committed to a sustainable universal postal service for users throughout the UK, including maintaining the one-price-goes anywhere principle including for those in remote and rural areas.

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.