Moray SNP News

DELIVERY CHARGES: LOCHHEAD INVITES GOVERNMENT MINISTERS TO MORAY

SNP MSP Richard Lochhead has written to the UK Government’s Consumers Minister, Kelly Tolhurst MP, and the Scottish Government’s Business Minister, Jamie Hepburn MSP, inviting them to Moray for talks on his campaign to end unfair parcel delivery surcharges.

Mr Lochhead, who has led the campaign for Fair Delivery Charges, has called on Kelly Tolhurst MP and Jamie Hepburn MSP to visit the AB-IV postcode boundary so they can see first-hand how unfair these surcharges are.

Moray’s MSP met with the UK Government’s Consumers Minister at Westminster in November last year, where he conveyed to her the frustration of consumers in Moray and across the north of Scotland, but to date the Conservative Government have refused to change the law to end these rip off practices.   

Research from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) revealed that parcel delivery surcharges cost Scottish consumers £38m last year. 

Richard Lochhead MSP said:

“I kicked off my campaign to end rip off parcel delivery surcharges almost three years ago now, securing cross party support, and what started out as a local campaign has now become a national issue.

“Whilst I welcome that progress, I continue to be inundated with cases from constituents and people across the north of Scotland all of which make it clear the current laws are not working and there’s huge public support for action. 

“I have invited both the Scottish and UK Government Ministers to visit Moray for further talks and so they can see the AB-IV postcode boundary first-hand – I’m certain they’ll then better understand just how ludicrous the postcode lottery and additional charges are. 

“When I travelled to Westminster to meet with the UK Government Minister she assured me that this was an issue she was taking seriously, however, we are nine months on and there’s been little sign of any action. 

“The case for Government intervention to end these rip off surcharges is as strong as ever.  I hope both the Scottish and UK Ministers will accept my invitation to Moray, and that they will commit to action that will put a stop to online retailers fleecing customers in the north of Scotland once and for all.”