Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Rural Scotland: Excess Delivery Charges — [Christina Rees in the Chair]

09 December 2020 · 0 other contributors · 3,794 words

Opened by Douglas Ross Con Moray

Responding minister: Paul Scully

HousingBusiness & TradeAgriculture & Rural Affairs

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Douglas Ross raised concerns about rural scotland: excess delivery charges — [christina rees in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • The MP is concerned about excessive delivery charges for consumers and small businesses in rural Scotland, citing a report by Citizens Advice Scotland.
  • The MP highlights a study estimating shoppers paid 43.1 million extra in delivery charges in 2020, with Moray incurring an additional charge of 3 million.
  • The MP calls on the Government to take action against discriminatory delivery charges and improve coordination among courier firms to reduce unnecessary surcharges.

Key requests to Government

The MP calls on the Government to take action against discriminatory delivery charges and ensure that companies adhere to their advertising commitments regarding delivery costs. He asks for stricter penalties for repeat offenders, improved coordination among courier firms to reduce unnecessary surcharges, and measures from retailers to maintain customer loyalty by avoiding excessive fees.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Douglas Ross Con Moray

The MP is concerned about the excessive delivery charges imposed on consumers and small businesses in rural Scotland, particularly in Moray. He cites a report by Citizens Advice Scotland that found individuals pay an average of 30% to 50% more for deliveries than those in other parts of Great Britain. The MP also highlights a recent study estimating shoppers paid £43.1 million extra in delivery charges in 2020, up from £40 million in 2019 and £38 million in 2018. Moray alone incurred an additional charge of £3 million during the same period. The MP mentions multiple cases where constituents have faced exorbitant surcharges for deliveries that should be free or at a flat rate across mainland UK.

Government Response

Paul Scully

The Government's aim is to secure a sustainable, efficient, and affordable universal postal service. The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 require retailers to be upfront about delivery costs before transactions are entered into. Consumers should report breaches through deliverylaw.uk for enforcement action by the ASA or CMA. Significant progress has been made with a compliance rate of over 95% from the ASA and advisory notices issued by the CMA to retail platforms. However, businesses must respond to customer needs and provide affordable options. Ofcom's annual post monitoring update shows that some operators vary their prices based on location while others do not. The Government supports competition in delivery charges which should lead to lower costs for consumers. Argos and Wayfair have taken steps to improve deliveries to Scottish islands and reduce delivery charges across the UK, respectively. The consumer protection partnership continues to work on issues and Ofcom will review its regulatory framework over the next year.

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