Royal Mail and the Post Office

Business and Trade Committee Closed Non-inquiry session
Opened: 10 Jan 2023 Closed: 24 Apr 2023 Parliament page
4 Recommendations
9 Conclusions
1 Report
2 Oral sessions
11 Letters
2 Events
Activity timeline 17 events
8 Jun
2023
Report published
17 Mar
2023
Report published
7 Mar
2023
Correspondence
27 Feb
2023
Correspondence
22 Feb
2023
Oral evidence
22 Feb
2023
Correspondence
22 Feb
2023
Correspondence
22 Feb
2023
Correspondence
22 Feb
2023
Correspondence
22 Feb
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
2 Feb
2023
Correspondence
2 Feb
2023
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
22 Feb 2023
View on parliament.uk
Keith Williams · International Distributions Services plc Ricky McAulay · Royal Mail Simon Thompson · Royal Mail
17 Jan 2023
View on parliament.uk
Andy Furey · Communication Workers Union Dave Ward · Communication Workers Union Nick Read · Post Office Ltd Simon Thompson · Royal Mail
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Seventh Report - Royal Mail HC 1045 17 Mar 2023 13 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
11 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Royal Mail
It is clear to us that, despite statements in evidence on 17 January by Simon...
It is clear to us that, despite statements in evidence on 17 January by Simon Thompson, the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Mail, PDA data has been used to track the speed at which postal workers deliver their post and, … Read more
Government Response
Royal Mail conducted a review of how its policies are being applied locally to ensure consistent implementation and will regularly remind employees about responsible data use and USO delivery.
Department for Business and Trade
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2 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Royal Mail
We acknowledge that there may be a case for Royal Mail to use PDA data...
We acknowledge that there may be a case for Royal Mail to use PDA data to achieve consistent and effective performance, as long as it is undertaken within the terms of established policies and following consultation with the workforce.
Government Response
The government stated that it is not their policy to prioritise parcels over letters, and that following the Committee’s Report, they took the decision to conduct a review of how their policies are being applied locally.
Department for Business and Trade
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3 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Royal Mail
Mr Thompson asserts that the evidence we presented to him was due to failures to...
Mr Thompson asserts that the evidence we presented to him was due to failures to apply company policy. However, we do not believe that such widespread errors in applying company policy could happen without the direct or indirect approval of … Read more
Government Response
The government stated that it is not their policy to prioritise parcels over letters, and that following the Committee’s Report, they took the decision to conduct a review of how their policies are being applied locally.
Department for Business and Trade
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4 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Royal Mail
If Mr Thompson’s assertion is correct—namely, that there are errors in applying company policy at...
If Mr Thompson’s assertion is correct—namely, that there are errors in applying company policy at Royal Mail—then these would appear to be widespread, and we can only conclude that the level of management oversight at Royal Mail is negligent and … Read more
Government Response
The government stated that it is not their policy to prioritise parcels over letters, and that following the Committee’s Report, they took the decision to conduct a review of how their policies are being applied locally.
Department for Business and Trade
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5 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Royal Mail
The Committee is concerned by the discrepancies between stated policy and the actual use of...
The Committee is concerned by the discrepancies between stated policy and the actual use of PDA data at Royal Mail for individual performance management. We therefore invite the Information Commissioner to review the legal basis for the collection, storage and … Read more
Government Response
The Information Commissioner acknowledges the request to review PDA data use at Royal Mail, stating that preliminary inquiries have been made and a response will be provided by the end of 2023.
Department for Business and Trade
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6 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Royal Mail
We conclude that, despite Mr Thompson’s statements to us on 17 January, which he qualified...
We conclude that, despite Mr Thompson’s statements to us on 17 January, which he qualified on 22 February, Royal Mail has deprioritised delivery of letters as a matter of company policy. While this might have been a legitimate approach at … Read more
Government Response
The government stated that it is not their policy to prioritise parcels over letters, and that following the Committee’s Report, they took the decision to conduct a review of how their policies are being applied locally.
Department for Business and Trade
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7 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Royal Mail
We believe that Royal Mail has systemically failed to deliver against parts of its Universal...
We believe that Royal Mail has systemically failed to deliver against parts of its Universal Service Obligation. We recognise the challenges of both the pandemic and ongoing industrial action, but the evidence we have suggests this systemic failing has been … Read more
Government Response
The government stated that it is not their policy to prioritise parcels over letters, and that following the Committee’s Report, they took the decision to conduct a review of how their policies are being applied locally.
Department for Business and Trade
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10 Conclusion
Seventh Report - Royal Mail
We are in little doubt that the blanket approach by Royal Mail in not paying...
We are in little doubt that the blanket approach by Royal Mail in not paying sick pay during periods of strike action will have been unduly harsh on those who were genuinely unfit for work and who may, through no … Read more
Department for Business and Trade
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11 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Royal Mail
Royal Mail is a brand with a long and proud heritage, and postal workers have...
Royal Mail is a brand with a long and proud heritage, and postal workers have been rightly celebrated as key workers. We want to see Royal Mail on a firm and sustainable footing for the future. However, it is clear … Read more
Government Response
Royal Mail acknowledges the shift in demand from letters to parcels and states that they have asked the Government to review the Universal Service Obligation (USO) and requested a move to a five day a week letter service.
Department for Business and Trade
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12 Recommendation Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Royal Mail
We recognise the importance of the Universal Service Obligation in delivering a vital public service,...
We recognise the importance of the Universal Service Obligation in delivering a vital public service, and we hope that Royal Mail seizes the commercial opportunities available to it in accessing every household across the country on six days of the … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of the Universal Service Obligation and states that the Minister discusses related issues with Royal Mail, but emphasizes that Ofcom is primarily responsible for ensuring a financially sustainable universal service.
Department for Business and Trade
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13 Recommendation Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Royal Mail
Finally, we put on record that the issues at Royal Mail covered by this Report...
Finally, we put on record that the issues at Royal Mail covered by this Report have caused the Committee great concern. Regarding the current industrial dispute, we call on the board of Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union to … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the Committee's call for resolution and states that Royal Mail and the CWU have reached a negotiators agreement, with the CWU recommending its members accept the proposed agreement.
Department for Business and Trade
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Government Response AI assessment · 12 of 4 classified
Accepted 2
Acknowledged 10
Total 4 recs + 9 conclusions
Correspondence 11 letters
7 Mar 2023 To committee Letter from the Chief Executive of Royal Mail relating to oral evidence session on 22 February 1 March 2023
Parliament page
27 Feb 2023 Selection from correspondence on Royal Mail
Parliament page
22 Feb 2023 Ofcom evidence relating to the evidence session on the 17 January 2023
Parliament page
22 Feb 2023 Royal Mail Slides relating to the recall session, 22 February 2023
Parliament page
22 Feb 2023 Citizens Advice evidence on letter delays and parcel delays, 31 January 2023
Parliament page
22 Feb 2023 From committee Letter to the Chair from the Royal Mail, 20 February 2023
Parliament page
2 Feb 2023 To committee Letter from the Chief Executive of the Post Office relating to evidence given to the Committee, 25 January 2023
Parliament page
2 Feb 2023 To committee Letter from the CWU relating to Royal Mail evidence session, 20 January 2023
Parliament page
2 Feb 2023 To committee Letter from the Chief Executive of Royal Mail responding to the Chair's request for an additional evidence session, 26 January 2023
Parliament page
24 Jan 2023 From committee Letter to the Chief Executive of Royal Mail relating to his appearance before the Committee, 24 January 2023
Parliament page
17 Jan 2023 Note from Citizens Advice relating to Royal Mail and the Post Office
Parliament page