Gibson highlights problems and solutions for rural parcel deliveries

Thursday, 2nd September 2010
For immediate use

Rob Gibson, SNP MSP for the Highlands and Islands, has lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament highlighting the recommendations of a recent report by Consumer Focus Scotland on problems with parcel delivery services in remote, rural and island areas.

The report notes the various problems that can be encountered by Scottish consumers when receiving parcel deliveries and recommends the development of more innovative solutions to address these problems.

Commenting on the report, Mr Gibson said:

"This is an important report highlighting the need for alternative local parcel delivery points and increased direct communication between parcel operators and consumers.


"These are problems many of us are all too familiar with, often requiring travel to distant depots to collect parcels and adding expense and environmental cost to the price already paid.


"The work of Consumer Focus is illuminating and offers innovative solutions to this problem. I welcome their work and hope to see its consideration and implementation by Royal Mail and the other parcel delivery providers - who don't operate under the universal service obligation - take responsibility in fully assisting their rural and island customers.

ENDS

NOTES

Mr Gibson's motion reads as follows:

S3M-06900 Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish National Party): Parcel Deliveries, Current Practice and Possible Solutions— That the Parliament welcomes the recently published Consumer Focus Scotland report Parcel Deliveries: Current Practice and Possible Solutions; notes the various problems that can be encountered by Scottish consumers when receiving parcel deliveries, especially those who live in the Highlands and Islands and other rural and remote areas, and supports the report’s recommendations for the development of more innovative solutions to address these problems, including more alternative local parcel delivery points and increased direct communication between parcel operators and consumers to improve the experience of those receiving parcel deliveries.

The full report can be accessed at:

(http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/assets/3/files/2009/07/CFS-Parcel-Delivery-Publication-July-2010.pdf