Recommendation 10

If the improvement plan we have recommended fails to deliver meaningful change within six months of this Report, the Secretary of State should consult on statutory changes to Ofcom’s duties and/or powers, to ensure it is fit for the 21st-century postal market. As a first step, the Secretary of State should present a proposal to this Committee for levelling the playing field between Royal Mail and its competitors. This should ensure that competitors are not able to free-ride on Royal Mail’s infrastructure, nor undercut employment conditions through gig economy models. Ministers 10 should consider a wide range of options, including a levy on competitors to reflect the benefit they enjoy from the use of the network, or minimum standards for other operators to adhere to, from both a consumer and worker perspective. (Recommendation, Paragraph 23) 11