A follow-up from the Royal Mail Debate

On Monday 26th October, I took the concerns of a huge number of Redditch constituents to a parliamentary debate, discussing the persistent poor performance of Royal Mail and Ofcom.

I asked for this debate because in Redditch and the Villages, the post (or lack of it) is now one of the most common reasons people write to me as their Member of Parliament. Most of my colleagues will have similar stories, with the obligatory rubber band, I will be no exception. 

Royal Mail must deliver 90 per cent of first-class letters the next working day. It is managing 85 per cent. Against a target of completing 99.9 per cent of delivery routes each day, it completed just 70 per cent. 

Those targets have been missed for five years running, while the first-class stamp has risen by 137 per cent, to £1.80 and the price of a first-class medium parcel (where Royal Mail actually competes) has fallen by half. Where there is competition, prices fall; where there is a monopoly, prices rise and service falls. 

I want to recognise the hard work of our local posties, who do an important job serving our communities. The focus must be on ensuring that the company has the right plans, resources and leadership in place to deliver a reliable service. 

Residents and businesses deserve a postal service they can trust. I will continue to press Royal Mail and the Government for answers, clear commitments and improvements that people can see in their everyday lives.