Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of banning low level letter boxes on levels of sick leave in postal workers.

I recognise that postal workers may be at risk of repetitive strain injury or inconvenience caused by letterboxes or letterplates that are inappropriately positioned in doors. Guidance on letterplate specifications is already referenced in Approved Document Q (ADQ), but the Government has recently invited the Building Safety Regulator to consider how guidance on letterbox and letterplate positioning might be set out more clearly so that it is easier to understand, has greater prominence and takes into account safety, ergonomics and efficiency for postal workers. People who use ADQ will be directed to BS EN 13724:2013 Postal services: apertures of private letter boxes and letter plates, setting out a standard positioning and recommended height.