Deregulation could hit rural post in Northern Ireland

ONE-price-for-all delivery, with every day service in Northern Ireland cannot be guaranteed because of the speed with which the postal industry is being deregulated.

Sir John Semple, Consignia’s Northern Ireland director, said the scale of deregulation was “too much, too soon”, and would threaten the postal company’s business and service to customers.

After a meeting with industry regulator Postcomm, he said the every- day service, known as the universal service which also guarantees a uniform stamp price, was especially important to Northern Ireland’s rural areas.

Sir John said that Postcomm representatives were unable to tell Consignia, the overall company combining the Post Office, Royal Mail and Parcelforce, what the effects of liberalising the market would have on stamp prices and delivery.

Postcomm, in line with European Union directives, wants to open the most profitable part of Royal Mail’s business to outside competition.