Every parliamentary written question tabled by Kate Osborne this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–5 of 5 · Department for Business and Trade
What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Post Office Ltd’s franchising model in maintaining community access to Post Office services where branches are located within retail premises that subsequently close; and what discussions he has had with Post Office Ltd on the proposed closure of Edinburgh Road Post Office in Jarrow following the proposed closure of the Morrisons Daily store in which it is located.
Awaiting answer.
Whether he has had discussions with Morrisons on its reported plans to close 100 Morrisons Daily stores, including the store on Edinburgh Road in Jarrow; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of those closures on workers, high streets and access to essential retail services in affected communities.
Awaiting answer.
If he will ensure that second-class Saturday deliveries remain part of the Universal Service Obligation for Royal Mail.
Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, is responsible for ensuring the provision of a financially sustainable and efficient universal postal service that meets users’ needs. Ofcom’s statement of 5 September set out potential reforms to the universal service obligation and its plans to carry out further in-depth research among postal users. Ofcom expects to publish any proposals for public consultation in early 2025, which will provide an opportunity for interested parties (including magazine publishers) to contribute their views. More information is available on Ofcom’s website: www.ofcom.org.uk/post/royal-mail/securing-the-future-of-the-universal-postal-service.
Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes to Royal Mail’s universal service obligation on magazine publishers.
Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, is responsible for ensuring the provision of a financially sustainable and efficient universal postal service that meets users’ needs. Ofcom’s statement of 5 September set out potential reforms to the universal service obligation and its plans to carry out further in-depth research among postal users. Ofcom expects to publish any proposals for public consultation in early 2025, which will provide an opportunity for interested parties (including magazine publishers) to contribute their views. More information is available on Ofcom’s website: www.ofcom.org.uk/post/royal-mail/securing-the-future-of-the-universal-postal-service.
Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of Royal Mail’s proposed stamp price increases on magazine publishers.
The Government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s commercial decisions, including the prices of stamps and other services. In setting its prices, Royal Mail must observe the regulatory framework set by Ofcom which imposes price controls, ‘safeguard caps’, on certain second-class products to ensure a basic universal service is available to all at affordable prices. Information on Ofcom’s decisions regarding retail price caps on Royal Mail’s universal postal services to apply from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2027 is available on its website: www.ofcom.org.uk/post/deliveries-and-charges/consultation-review-of-second-class-safeguard-caps-2024.