Questions to First Minister - Scottish Parliament

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Dave Thompson (Scottish National Party)

4. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that the Royal Mail has called into question its ability to fulfil the universal service obligation and what the impact could be on rural communities. (S4F-02128)

Official Report source

Alex Salmond (Scottish National Party)

Postal services are a lifeline for many of Scotland’s communities, particularly in our nation’s more remote rural areas. Those communities depend on the delivery service guaranteed by the Royal Mail’s universal service obligation. That is why it is so deeply concerning to see that the Royal Mail has concerns about its ability to fulfil the universal service obligation.

We can reflect on two things. First, it is disgraceful that this public asset was sold at a knock-down price. Secondly, having the regulation of mail in the hands of a Scottish Parliament will provide us with the opportunity to ensure that the universal postal service is there in the best interests of communities across the country.

Dave Thompson (Scottish National Party)

Prior to the cut-price sell off, we were given specific assurances that the universal service obligation would be maintained. As recently as last month, Vince Cable said:

“The sale of shares in Royal Mail has delivered on our commitment to protect the universal postal service and safeguard vital services for the taxpayer.”

My local MP, Danny Alexander, also once said—

The Presiding Officer:
Can we get a question, Mr Thompson?

Dave Thompson (Scottish National Party)
Yes, Presiding Officer. Danny Alexander said:

“We must continue to be vigilant, and safeguard the Universal Service Obligation at all costs.”

Does the First Minister believe that those Lib Dem MPs are to be trusted?

Alex Salmond (Scottish National Party)

The question of trust between Danny Alexander and Vince Cable is very pertinent to the events of the past 24 hours. No doubt there will be speculation on who commissioned the poll in Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey and whether Vince Cable knew about that. The only thing that is certain is that we know what the results of that poll were.

I believe that that undermining or questioning of the universal service obligation—let us call it a questioning, because Royal Mail executives have spoken about a questioning of and a concern about the universal service obligation—brings very quickly into the front line of public discussion something that those of us who opposed the Royal Mail’s privatisation were deeply concerned about. We will be looking for more assurances that the universal service obligation guarantee still stands. Whether we get those assurances from Danny Alexander or Vince Cable, I suspect that we should get them quickly or we might not get them at all.