Stevenson Makes Submission to DTI Post Office Consultation

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has made a submission to the Department of Trade and Industry’s consultation on the Post Office Network.

In his submission Mr. Stevenson highlights the importance of post offices to rural areas and the threat large-scale closures pose to local communities in Banff & Buchan. Mr. Stevenson also warned against Royal Mail’s proposed restriction to its Universal Service Obligation (USO) to deliver anywhere in the UK for the same price.

In his submission to the DTI Mr. Stevenson states;

“Post Offices provide valuable public services to my constituents and I believe that the large-scale loss of these services would be detrimental to local communities. Consideration must be given to the local geography, the specific needs of individual communities and the long-term feasibility of the network.

“The Post Office network cannot be treated as simply another private enterprise. It is an essential national provider of public services which must be maintained. This consultation does not make adequate provision for the sustainability of rural communities or outline how the public's loss of access to services will be compensated for after closures.

“This proposed restriction to Royal Mail’s Universal Service Obligation would primarily affect business mail, resulting in companies paying more to send mail to remote areas. By affecting businesses this threatens the economic backbone and therefore the whole viability of rural town lands, villages and communities.

“If this proposal goes ahead it will severely discriminate against the people in my constituency, leaving them marginalised within the postal network. I would strongly urge the Royal Mail to abandon this proposal and for the DTI to do all in its power to prevent it.