Weather hits post offices probe

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ONLY TWO MPS MANAGE TO MAKE IT THROUGH SNOW AND ICE FOR TOP-LEVEL ARGYLL FACTFINDER
BY DAVID PERRY

Published: 07/12/2010

Weather conditions hit plans by MPs to visit Argyll post offices yesterday as they explore fears that government moves to privatise Royal Mail could jeopardise the universal delivery service.

Only two members of the Scottish Affairs Committee took part in the visit to Oban – committee chairman Ian Davidson, Labour MP for Glasgow South West, and Argyll and Bute Liberal Democrat MP Alan Reid.

They toured Oban sorting office and discussed the prospects for local postal services at a meeting with representatives of Mull Community Council, Oban town-centre manager Campbell Cameron and representatives of Argyll and Bute Council.

The MPs also visited Caledonian Oysters on Loch Creran, before going to Dalmally post office.

An intended visit to Furnace post office was called off because of the state of the roads.

Mr Davidson said MPs from the central belt and the east coast of Scotland, as well as English MPs who sit on the committee, were unable to travel.

However, he said: “It has been a very useful visit. We will relay an account of what took place to other members of the committee.”

Mr Davidson said he had been interested to hear the views of local people on what more could be done to boost business transacted at local post offices to make them economically viable.

Suggestions included a requirement for internet distributors such as Amazon to provide a Royal Mail option for delivery, even at higher cost, so parcels that cannot be delivered can be left at local post offices instead of at courier companies’ sorting offices up to 20 miles away.

Access could also be provided to Credit Union financial services, it was proposed.

Mr Davidson said most post offices, with the exception of offices hit by falling local populations, could have a viable future.

He reported that his committee was concentrating on the potential impact on Scotland of the government’s Postal Services Bill, with MPs worried that it could hit the current universal service under which overnight deliveries are made at the same unit cost anywhere in the UK.

Mr Davidson said: “Anybody who gets a contract wants to reduce costs. The danger is that they will try to reduce costs by reducing the universal service.”

Mr Reid said the visit had been “very positive” and would assist the committee to prepare its report.

“Everyone has been very helpful,” he said.

The committee hopes to publish a report before the Christmas break.



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