Regulation `over-burdening UK Royal Mail`
The Royal Mail was over-burdened by parts of the regime regulating its services, according to an official report today. The National Audit Office (NAO) said there was scope to improve the way the regulations were implemented by Postcomm, which would reduce the burdens. These included cutting the length and detail of investigations into Royal Mail services, according to the report, Opening the Post. The study found that postal deliveries had been improving since regulation was introduced, although it singled out areas including North West London and South East London where target levels were not being achieved.
Sir John Bourn, head of the NAO, said: “The problem of regulating a monopoly such as Royal Mail is that it tends to involve advocacy, litigation and dispute.
“That is why competition is in the long run a less costly and burdensome way of protecting consumers. This report encourages Postcomm to minimise the costs and maximise the benefits in the short term while withdrawing from detailed regulation in the medium term.”
