Royal Mail plans blocked:Government blocks Royal Mail plans to axe Saturday deliveries

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/co ... 17312.html

10.06am: Government blocks Royal Mail plans to axe Saturday deliveries

Royal Mail’s hopes of ending Saturday deliveries have been delivered a blow by ministers as regulators investigate whether to fine the company for breaching its obligation to deliver six days a week.

Royal Mail, owned by International Distributions Services PLC (LSE:IDS), had warned that its poor financial performance will continue unless ministers let the company abandon Saturday letter deliveries.

It argued that the decline of letters means its current programme of deliveries is financially unviable.

However, business minister Kevin Hollinrake told the company today that the Government has no plans to review its so-called universal service obligation.

"We currently have no plans to change the minimum requirements of the universal postal service as set out in the Postal Services Act 2011 (the Act), including 6-day letter deliveries," he said.

"Postal services have long played, and continue to play, a key role in our society," he added, noting "the ability to send and receive letters and parcels is important both socially and economically."

"This is particularly true for consumers who might be more vulnerable, such as those who are geographically or digitally isolated from their friends and family."

[TopperGas]

I assume that puts an end to this issue for a few years as I can't see an incoming Labour Government, should they win the next election, having any interest in making a decision leading to 1'000's of RM workers losing their jobs.

[funkflex55]

Hasn't the government noticed that RM has already reduced the USO, some walks in our office get mail once a week.

[Ad_bee]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/20 ... n-blocked/

Royal Mail’s chairman Keith Williams warned in December that “considerable” increases in the cost of a first class stamp would be needed to balance the books if it has to continue with a six-day letter delivery service.

He said: “

You’re delivering the same number of letters over six days when you could be doing it over five.

So that is forcing up stamp prices.”

We delivering letters now?

[BenacreNick]

Well done Kevin Hollinrake.

[hans solo]

McPherson and mcauley
Girfuy

[nutcracker]

Wounded government can’t make any difficult decisions at the moment and in this case doesn’t need to, the uso has been dead for 3 or 4 years with “fines” built into the business plan and government policy.

[Shadedpostie]

Hasn't the government noticed that RM has already reduced the USO, some walks in our office get mail once a week.

There is a difference between reducing the USO because the mail just isn't there and reducing the mail cuz they don't want to reach out their pockets and hire new staff. Yet, the company has no problems getting parcels on time, hell some parcels get there earlier than people expect This government might be stupid, but not brain-dead on what's going on in this company. Company is technically costing them money with the amount of missed NHS letters too that's sat in frames for days/weeks so not gonna just grant them what they want.