Parcel prices put Highlands at disadvantage says MP

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AN MP has called for a universal pricing structure on parcel deliveries to stop Highlands and Islands firms being penalised.

Parcelforce Worldwide has split the UK into three charging areas for deliveries: Zone 1 is England, Wales and parts of Scotland (excluding the Highlands and Islands); Zone 2 covers the Highlands and Islands; Zone 3 covers Ulster, the Isle of Man and the Isles of Scilly.

But Ian Blackford, MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, has criticised the “bizarre” pricing structure, and pointed out that parcels sent from Zone 2 to Zone 1 do not attract a surcharge, even though they take the same route as those being sent in the other direction, which are surcharged.

His call for a universal structure came after he wrote to Parcelforce managing director, Gary Simpson, on behalf of a constituent who was asked to pay a surcharge by one of his suppliers near London, as they were unwilling to absorb the additional cost imposed on them by the recently privatised company.

Blackford said that Parcelforce claimed that extra costs for deliveries to the Highlands and Islands were justified, as other parts of the UK are easier and cheaper to reach.

The firm said that remoteness, distance of delivery address and additional logistical handling are the deciding factors when calculating costs to account customers, such as businesses or regular users of their services who already receive more favourable rates than individual, occasional users.

Parcelforce also said that deliveries to any Zone 2 mainland address from a Zone 1 location in Scotland are not charged a premium rate.

Mr Blackford said: “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.


“It was claimed that privatisation would make Parcelforce more competitive and better able to meet the needs of its customers.

“This has clearly not worked for us in the Highlands.”

He added: “I argued strongly at the time that Royal Mail privatisation was a threat to the Highlands and Islands.

“If Parcelforce was still a public company it would help in arguing for a universal market. As there is with letters, those living in the Highlands and Islands should benefit from a national price for parcel delivery, something that would cover equality and fairness to all.”

A spokeswoman for Parcelforce Worldwide said: “Parcelforce Worldwide goes further than any other carrier in the UK to recognise the needs of Scotland’s remote and rural communities.

[Tman]

Lucky you never voted for independence then. You'd be paying the true cost of a whole range of things now.