This statement sets out Ofcom’s decision to issue a direction for Boxing Day to be permanently designated as an exception to the universal service when it falls on a Saturday.
On 22 June 2015, Royal Mail wrote to Ofcom requesting a direction to except Royal Mail from having to carry out its universal service obligation on 26 December when this date falls on a Saturday, beginning with 26 December 2015. This would mean that Royal Mail would not have to deliver or collect mail on that day until further notice. Royal Mail’s application included forecasts of low volumes of mail in the period immediately after Christmas and its proposed communications with customers.
Royal Mail was previously granted an exception (by the previous regulator, Postcomm) when Boxing Day fell on Saturday in 2009. Prior to the Postal Services Act 2000, Royal Mail’s policy (at least since the 1980’s) was not to collect and deliver mail when Boxing Day fell on a Saturday.
Ofcom issued a consultation on 30 July 2015 to seek views from stakeholders on how they may be affected if there are no deliveries and collections when 26 December falls on a Saturday. The consultation closed on 10 September 2015 and we received eleven responses.
After analysis of these responses we have decided to agree to Royal Mail’s request for an exception in relation to deliveries and collections when 26 December falls on a Saturday. The direction will apply until further notice.