Royal Mail boss admits supply delays ‘nonetheless not adequate’

[ad_1] Your assist helps us to inform the story From reproductive rights to local weather change to Massive Tech, The Impartial is on the bottom when the story is creating. Whether or not it is investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our newest documentary, 'The A Phrase', which shines a lightweight on the American girls combating for reproductive rights, we all know how necessary it's to parse out the info from the messaging.

At such a vital second in US historical past, we want reporters on the bottom. Your donation permits us to maintain sending journalists to talk to each side of the story.

The Impartial is trusted by Individuals throughout your complete political spectrum. And in contrast to many different high quality information retailers, we select to not lock Individuals out of our reporting and evaluation with paywalls. We imagine high quality journalism must be accessible to everybody, paid for by those that can afford it.

Your assist makes all of the distinction. Learn extra Royal Mail is pushing for the "pressing" implementation of modifications that will see Saturday second-class deliveries scrapped, following one other interval of missed postal targets - as its boss admitted its delays to letter deliveries are “nonetheless not adequate”.

The postal service revealed that between 29 September and 30 November, solely 91.6 per cent of second-class mail arrived inside three working days.

First-class service fared worse, with simply 77.5 per cent of letters reaching their vacation spot the subsequent working day.

These figures fall wanting regulator Ofcom's benchmarks, which mandate 93 per cent of first-class put up to be delivered the next day and 98.5 per cent of second-class inside three days.

Whereas Royal Mail famous an enchancment on the earlier quarter's efficiency, it nonetheless failed to satisfy these essential requirements.

Ofcom quickly suspends supply targets throughout December to account for the numerous improve in demand over the Christmas interval.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/02/16/12/aaf0da8719f1beb37778c7dd07b6094fY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzcxMzI4NjY1-2.83234587.jpg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/02/16/12/aaf0da8719f1beb37778c7dd07b6094fY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzcxMzI4NjY1-2.83234587.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/02/16/12/aaf0da8719f1beb37778c7dd07b6094fY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzcxMzI4NjY1-2.83234587.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Royal Mail has been asked to respond to a group of MPs who raised concerns about ‘chaos’ in the postal service since Christmas and suggestions that some letters are being delivered in ‘batches’" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Royal Mail has been requested to answer a gaggle of MPs who raised considerations about ‘chaos’ within the postal service since Christmas and ideas that some letters are being delivered in ‘batches’ (PA Wire) Royal Mail chief govt Alistair Cochrane stated: “Whereas these outcomes present enhancements for each first- and second-class mail, we recognise that our efficiency in letters remains to be not adequate.

“Sadly, underneath the present supply mannequin, there is no such thing as a viable method to considerably and sustainably enhance high quality of service for patrons.

“The reply is to urgently implement Common Service reform, which is why we've now entered an intense interval of discussions with the CWU to lastly attain an settlement on these modifications.”

The figures come as Royal Mail has been requested to answer a gaggle of MPs who raised considerations about “chaos” within the postal service since Christmas and ideas that some letters are being delivered in “batches”.

The corporate was, earlier this week, given two weeks to answer a sequence of questions put to it by the Enterprise and Commerce Committee (BTC).

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/02/20/13/50f952b1b6700304a16edd4fffb369e1Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzcxNjc3Nzg0-2.81434317.jpg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/02/20/13/50f952b1b6700304a16edd4fffb369e1Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzcxNjc3Nzg0-2.81434317.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/02/20/13/50f952b1b6700304a16edd4fffb369e1Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzcxNjc3Nzg0-2.81434317.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Royal Mail has insisted it needs to ‘urgently’ roll out changes that will see second-class post scrapped on Saturdays (Royal Mail/PA)" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Royal Mail has insisted it must ‘urgently’ roll out modifications that can see second-class put up scrapped on Saturdays (Royal Mail/PA) (Royal Mail) It follows the postal agency issuing a discover about potential service delays throughout 38 of its supply workplaces this week, protecting round 100 UK postcodes, on account of native points like a better than traditional variety of workers off sick, in addition to stormy climate.

Ofcom final yr gave the inexperienced gentle to Royal Mail to scrap second-class letter deliveries on Saturdays and alter the service to each different weekday, ranging from July 28.

Royal Mail launched second-class letter modifications throughout 35 supply workplaces as a pilot, however has but to broaden this nationwide throughout all 1,200 websites because of the failure to succeed in an settlement with the union.

It kicked off month-long intensive talks with the Communications Employees Union (CWU) originally of February after failing to agree on tips on how to roll out modifications nationwide to its common service obligation (USO).

Royal Mail stated the pilots “present the mannequin is working, with elevated effectivity and improved service ranges, together with over Christmas when volumes doubled”.

“Given robust proof from the pilots performed that USO reform will end in vital and sustained enhancements in high quality of service for patrons, Royal Mail sees no different to its pressing deployment throughout the community,” it added.