Select committee: Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee
Conclusion 1
Seventh Report - Royal Mail
Published 17 Mar 2023
Paragraph 13
Addressed to Department for Business and Trade
Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee Royal Mail and the Post Office All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
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, subsequently, for performance management, both explicitly in disciplinary cases and as a tool by local managers to dissuade staff from stopping during their rounds. Based on the evidence, it seems clear to us that, whether intentionally or inadvertently, Mr Thompson misled the Committee when he first gave evidence by giving an answer which was not wholly accurate.
From: Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee, Seventh Report - Royal Mail (HC 1045), paragraph 13, 17 March 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 8 June 2023 (deadline 17 May 2023).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The Department for Business and Trade says it currently has "no plans to change the minimum requirements of the universal postal service", and addresses the Committee's one recommendation to it by pointing to Ofcom's role as regulator.
- On the recommendation for formal engagement with Royal Mail, the Minister says he discusses a range of issues with the Chair of International Distributions Services and the Chief Executive of Royal Mail. He gives no date or report commitment.
- The Department says the primary duty for a financially sustainable universal service lies with Ofcom, and that Royal Mail would need to present Ofcom with evidence that the current service is financially unsustainable.
- Ofcom has opened an investigation into Royal Mail's 2022/23 quality of service. It says it "expect[s] to complete and publish the outcome" by the end of 2023, and will report back to the Committee at the same time.
- The Information Commissioner says his office has made "preliminary enquiries" with Royal Mail about PDA data and expects to respond to the Committee's request "before the end of the year".