Royal Mail: Universal Service Obligation
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to introduce legislation to amend the statutory framework governing the Universal Service Obligation for the Royal Mail.
Answered by Blair McDougall
The government currently has no plans to amend the statutory framework governing the Universal Service Obligation (USO) set out in the Postal Services Act 2011.
Under the Act, Ofcom, as the independent regulator, is responsible for securing a sustainable and efficient universal postal service. Ofcom announced regulatory reforms to the universal service obligation in July 2025 following extensive research and consultation.
Royal Mail agreed a new delivery model with the Communication Workers Union on 15 April 2026 and has begun implementing the USO reforms. The Government will keep the need for any legislative change under review.
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