The Future of UK Postal Services

Last Monday the Institute of Economic Affairs held their 6th annual conference on The Future of UK Postal Services in London. Although the media have honed in on the fact that Sarah Chambers, Chief Executive of Postcomm, stated that the number of deliveries received each week, currently six, could be an area for future discussion, there were also a number of other interesting points that were raised.

It's clear that a debate on the Universal Service Obligation (USO) is desired by Royal Mail, their competitors and Postcomm. This is likely to include which products are included in the future, with Royal Mail envisaging only stamped mail enjoying USO protection. There are also debates to be had on delivery methods and access points as the way we work and live continue to evolve. The way the USO is funded was also touched on and this will be an area of concern for the industry as a whole, and a real challenge for Postcomm.

The post will always be an emotive issue but it’s important that any future debate considers all options, however far reaching, to ensure that the outcome really is the very best it can be for customers.

Postwatch are already in the process of carrying out extensive research on the value of the USO and will be at the forefront of this debate as it develops.