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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he will take to ensure that service levels within postal services are maintained at a high level throughout the Christmas period and the covid-19 outbreak.

The Government recognises the importance of a reliable universal postal service to customers and local communities across the UK and we know postal workers are working exceptionally hard to meet demand over the festive period.

Royal Mail has publicly stated that it is aware of the reduction in service levels in some areas and has taken action to minimise disruption to postal services throughout the Christmas period. This includes opening five temporary parcel sorting centres and recruiting thousands of seasonal workers to help sort the Christmas post at sites across the UK.

Royal Mail’s contingency plans to mitigate disruption to postal services are overseen by Ofcom, the independent regulator responsible for monitoring the delivery of the universal postal service.

Ofcom monitors Royal Mail’s performance and has powers to investigate and take enforcement action if Royal Mail fails to achieve its service delivery targets.