UK MP's warning over business post prices
Proposals by Royal Mail to charge business customers higher prices for delivering their post in rural areas must be fought, an MP has warned.
Last night North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb said that the prospect of “zonal charging” for business mail – which will see rural and urban areas treated differently – represented “the start of a slippery slope”.
Royal Mail has applied to the postal regulator Postcomm for permission to charge more to business for delivering mail in rural areas to reflect the higher logistical costs.
The proposals are currently being consulted on with a final decision expected next month.
Mr Lamb said: “The implications of this are potentially very serious once we break the principle that you are treated equally wherever you live. It is a very slippery slope.
“The postal service treating all equally is a policy that we have got to fight for.
“Even if this is rejected Postcomm appear to be leaving the door open for Royal Mail to come back again. This issue should be kept in people’s minds and campaigned against.”
Postcomm has already declared it is mindful to reject Royal Mail’s application but has said it is not opposed to the principle of cost reflective pricing – where the price of postage reflects accurately how much it will cost to deliver.
A spokesman for Royal Mail refused to confirm or deny whether the company would apply again if its application is rejected saying the company would await the details of Postcomm’s decision.
