Written Question·Department for Business and Trade·UIN 66498

Universal Service Obligation: Rural Areas

Tabled: 9 July 2025
Answered: 16 July 2025

Question

Mr Angus MacDonald

Liberal DemocratInverness, Skye and West Ross-shire

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to ensure that the Universal Service Obligation applies to rural areas.

Answer

Justin Madders

The government is committed to a sustainable universal postal service for users throughout the UK, including maintaining the one-price-goes anywhere principle including for those in remote and rural areas.

It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to set and monitor Royal Mail’s service standards and decide how to use its powers to investigate and take enforcement action should Royal Mail fail to achieve its obligations without good justification.