Royal Mail postal delivery services
Tabled 12 February 2026 by Sorcha Eastwood
That this House notes ongoing failures in Royal Mail’s delivery performance, including reports of post being batched over one to two weeks rather than delivered daily, in breach of statutory delivery targets; recognises the particular impact on Northern Ireland, rural and remote communities, and those reliant on timely post for essential communications; expresses serious concern about the consequences of delayed post for hospital and GP appointment letters, benefit correspondence, bills and legal documents, risking missed appointments, financial penalties and poorer health outcomes; highlights that Royal Mail has repeatedly missed Ofcom targets under the Universal Service Obligation while consumers face rising stamp prices and declining service quality; pays tribute to postal workers who continue to serve our communities under significant operational pressures; further notes evidence that staffing shortages, overtime restrictions, operational changes and the prioritisation of parcels over letters are contributing to service failures; further expresses concern about the impact of privatisation and a lack of transparency in Royal Mail’s performance data, operational decisions and engagement with customers and regulators; calls on the Government, Ofcom and Royal Mail to set out urgent measures to restore delivery performance, ensure equality of service across all regions and nations, and strengthen accountability for persistent failures; and further calls for a review of Royal Mail’s ownership and governance model to ensure the Universal Service Obligation is protected in the public interest.