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Royal Mail: Universal Service Obligation

Asked by John SlingerLabourDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled Answered 7 September 2026UIN 19606

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Royal Mail meets its obligations under the universal postal service in relation to the free delivery of Articles for the Blind; what assessment he has made of the timeliness of those deliveries; and what steps he is taking to improve delivery performance for constituents in Rugby.

Answered by Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade

It is important that postal services are accessible and work effectively for all users, particularly those relying on the Articles for the Blind service. The obligation to provide this service is set out in legislation and regulations are overseen by Ofcom, as the independent regulator.

Ministers have met with both Royal Mail and Ofcom to discuss concerns about delivery performance and will continue to make representations to ensure that customers receive the service they are entitled to.

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