Scottish MP says parcel charges disadvantage Highlands and Islands
Ian Blackford, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, has claimed that Parcelforce Worldwide’s pricing strategy puts the Scottish Highlands and Islands at a disadvantage. The Scottish National Party (SNP) MP has criticized that policy which means that parcels sent from Zone 1 (England, Wales and the Scottish lowlands) to Zone 2 (the Scottish Highlands and Islands) are more expensive than those travelling in the other direction.
In a letter addressed to Parcelforce managing director Gary Simpson, Blackford wrote: ““I receive many complaints from constituents about the high cost of deliveries.
“It is not an acceptable situation that our businesses are being put at a disadvantage through being forced to pay extra delivery charges just because they happen to be located in a particular zone decided on by Parcelforce.
“They have adopted a bizarre and complex pricing structure which works against our Highland businesses when what they should have is a universal rate for commercial deliveries right across the UK to create a level playing field.”
In a tweet posted on Saturday (19 November), Blackford asserted: “Highlanders and Islanders being ripped off by @parcelforce should be a universal market like letters.”
