Tories condemn “devastating deterioration” in UK postal services

Ministers were accused by the Tories today of presiding over a “devastating deterioration” in postal delivery services.

Shadow minister Michael Fabricant said the Royal Mail failed to meet all 15 delivery targets for the last financial year.

The scrapping of the second delivery was causing “havoc” for mail order and other businesses.

“In principle this seems like a sensible cost cutting measure. But the reality is that the one single delivery is now due any time between 7am and – who knows when.

“These failures to meet minimum delivery targets and the switch to single day delivery are causing considerable damage to both business and private customers and need to be urgently addressed.

“We have seen a devastating deterioration in the standard of Royal Mail’s delivery service.”

Opening a Tory-led debate on postal services, Mr Fabricant said even postal services in Parliament were “not immune to the effects of these failures”.

On May 12 all MPs were informed that for a three-month trial period starting on June 1 Members’ in-coming mail forwarded from Parliament to an external address would be sent first class instead of special delivery to save £500,000 a year.

But just three days after the start of the trial, it had to be suspended until Royal Mail could guarantee “a first class service”.

He said: “If it weren’t so serious it would be an Ealing comedy and frankly the complacency of Government ministers is a disgrace.”

Mr Fabricant also complained about the “breakneck” speed of post office closures and accused the Post Office of failing to consult local communities properly.

Uncertainty over the future of urban and rural post offices was having a “devastating” effect on local users, particularly the elderly and the vulnerable.

“Ultimately the buck stops with the Government,” he said. “It’s up to them to ensure that the Post Office network remains viable.”