Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 41
41
Rejected
Explicitly mention the delivery of ballot packs, postal votes, and poll cards in universal service obligation.
Recommendation
We recommend that the delivery of ballot packs, postal votes and poll cards (subject to the consideration above) should be explicitly mentioned in the universal service obligation. (Recommendation, Paragraph 110)
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to explicitly mention election mail in the universal service obligation, explaining that Ofcom regulates the USO, and election mail services are business accounts not covered by it, thus no further regulatory or government intervention is considered necessary.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
On the Committee’s fourth recommendation, the Government already works alongside Royal Mail in the period preceding an election, to discuss plans and preparedness for the upcoming poll. This work will continue in future polls, building upon the positive working relationship that has been developed over a number of years. In relation to the Committee’s recommendation on the universal service obligation (USO), Parliament has given Ofcom the role of independent postal regulator under the Postal Services Act 2011. This places a duty on Ofcom to secure the provision of a universal postal service and they must, by order, set out a description of the services that they consider should be provided in the UK as a universal postal service, as well as the standards with which those services are to comply. During an election, a range of business mail and election services are used through either an access operator or directly with Royal Mail. These are business accounts which are not regulated under the USO, though they align with its reformed delivery model. The Government is confident that Royal Mail has a major focus on delivering election mail to the required standard and the reports from the Electoral Commission, as well as from this Committee, conclude that Royal Mail performed well under the difficult circumstances of last year’s General Election. Therefore, we believe there is no need for further regulatory or Government intervention in this area.