Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to Ofcom's Residential Postal Tracker Q3 2021 - Q2 2022 published September 2022, what assessment he has made of that report's findings that 25 per cent of consumers have cut back on sending post to be able to afford essentials; and whether he has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of the price of sending post.

As a private business, Royal Mail’s management sets the prices for its services. The Government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s commercial decisions.

In setting prices Royal Mail must observe the regulatory framework set by Ofcom, the independent regulator. This framework imposes price caps, ‘safeguard caps’, on certain second-class products to ensure a basic universal service is available to all at affordable prices and users of postal services, especially vulnerable consumers, are protected from on-going price rises.

Ofcom will include consideration of the findings of its Residential Postal Tracker Q3 2021 - Q2 2022 in its upcoming review of safeguard caps including a consultation and statement during 2023/24.