HOMES in remote parts of the UK like Kintyre could end up with post delivered only a couple of days a week, or having to collect mail from Post Offices.
Alan Reid MP for Argyll and Bute asked for, and was granted, a Commons debate as soon as he read the latest report on the UK’s postal service.
It paints a bleak future for Royal Mail and the universal postal service, which pledges one delivery to every house in the country six days a week and one collection from every community six days a week, at the same, affordable price. Mr Reid said: ‘As soon as I read this report, I realised that the situation was critical and applied to the Speaker for a debate. I am delighted that he granted it so quickly.’
The debate was taking place on Wednesday in Westminster Hall as The Courier went to press. The report reveals that householders and small companies had seen no benefit from the opening up of Royal Mail to competition, but big companies have; it also warns that the universal service is under threat.
Mr Reid said: ‘This report confirms what I have been warning of for years.
‘We have seen mail prices rise and the delivery times for mail become much later in the day, in some cases as late as 6pm.
Unless there is a rapid change in Government policy, we will see the end of the universal service. This could result in people in rural areas only getting one or two mail deliveries a week or having to pick up their mail from a Post Office.’
Alan Reid will also raise the future of the rural Post Office network.
