Plaid Cymru’s Hywel Williams MP has said that the challenging Christmas weather this year showed why the Royal Mail, whose universal service obligation ensures that deliveries continue in all conditions, was so important .
Mr Williams has previously raised concerns about the consequences it will have on the postal service in rural areas and the importance of maintaining the Universal Service Obligation for businesses.
Plaid MP Hywel Williams said:
“The fact that the Royal Mail are battling through the winter weather totally reinforces the case to keep the post public.
“Rural Wales in particular is especially reliant on the services of the Royal Mail and any reduction to the Universal Service Obligation will seriously impact on the local economy.
“Sub post offices play an important role in the delivery of postal services and this continuing uncertainty is undermining the confidence of sub post masters.
“Of most importance to Wales is the need to ensure the continuation of the universal service provision which means that it costs the same to deliver a letter to any address in the UK.
“This is why the Royal Mail, the only postal service providing this, is so important.
“The companies that cancelled Christmas deliveries are not up to the standards of the universal service obligation, and they should not be allowed to bid for Royal Mail under the UK governments privatisation proposals.”
