Dave Thompson MSP

Following reports from the Royal Mail questioning the viability of the Universal Service Obligation (USO), Dave Thompson SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch used First Minister’s Questions to ask what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that the Royal Mail has called into question its ability to fulfil its universal service obligation profitably and what impact there might be on rural communities.

Mr Thompson’s question was as follows: “To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that the Royal Mail has called into question its ability to fulfil the universal service obligation and what the impact could be on rural communities”.

Dave followed this question up with: “Prior to the cut-price sell-off, we were given specific assurances that the Universal Service Obligation would be maintained”.

And following FMQ’s he said: “With independence Scotland will be able to guarantee that the USO will be protected because the Scottish Government has made assurances that the Royal Mail Service will be brought back into public ownership”.

He went further: “I recognise the importance of the USO as it provides a lifeline to many of my constituency in Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, which is why I am in full agreement with the First Minister that the Royal Mail should be taken back into public ownership

He added: “Only a YES vote in 2014 can achieve that aim”.

Notes:

Full supplementary from FMQs below:

Dave Thompson (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP): To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that the Royal Mail has called into question its ability to fulfil the universal service obligation and what the impact could be on rural communities. (S4F-02128)

The First Minister (Alex Salmond): Postal services are a lifeline for many of Scotland’s communities, particularly in our nation’s more remote rural areas. Those communities depend on the delivery service guaranteed by the Royal Mail’s universal service obligation. That is why it is so deeply concerning to see that the Royal Mail has concerns about its ability to fulfil the universal service obligation.We can reflect on two things. First, it is disgraceful that this public asset was sold at a knock-down price. Secondly, having the regulation of mail in the hands of a Scottish Parliament will provide us with the opportunity to ensure that the universal postal service is there in the best interests of communities across the country.

Dave Thompson: Prior to the cut-price sell off, we were given specific assurances that the universal service obligation would be maintained. As recently as last month, Vince Cable said:“The sale of shares in Royal Mail has delivered on our commitment to protect the universal postal service and safeguard vital services for the taxpayer.”My local MP, Danny Alexander, also once said—

The Presiding Officer: Can we get a question, Mr Thompson?

Dave Thompson: Yes, Presiding Officer. Danny Alexander said: “We must continue to be vigilant, and safeguard the Universal Service Obligation at all costs.”  Does the First Minister believe that those Lib Dem MPs are to be trusted?

The First Minister: The question of trust between Danny Alexander and Vince Cable is very pertinent to the events of the past 24 hours. No doubt there will be speculation on who commissioned the poll in Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey and whether Vince Cable knew about that. The only thing that is certain is that we know what the results of that poll were. I believe that that undermining or questioning of the universal service obligation—let us call it a questioning, because Royal Mail executives have spoken about a questioning of and a concern about the universal service obligation—brings very quickly into the front line of public discussion something that those of us who opposed the Royal Mail’s privatisation were deeply concerned about. We will be looking for more assurances that the universal service obligation guarantee still stands. Whether we get those assurances from Danny Alexander or Vince Cable, I suspect that we should get them quickly or we might not get them at all.

Full report can be found at the following link:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=9212&mode=html#iob_83086