Moray SNP News

LOCHHEAD WELCOMES LAUNCH OF FAIR DELIVERIES ACTION PLAN

Richard Lochhead MSP has welcomed the launch of the Scottish Government’s Fair Deliveries for All Action plan reinforcing its commitment to fair parcel deliveries for all parts of Scotland.

The launch came ahead of the MSP’s talks over his delivery charges campaign with the UK Government Minister for Small Businesses, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility, Kelly Tolhurst, on Tuesday 27th November.

Mr Lochhead has spearheaded the campaign to end unfair delivery surcharges and will press the UK Government Minister to take action given the powers over regulation are reserved to Westminster.

The MSP has submitted two dossiers to the Advertising Standards Authority to investigate, who have confirmed this week that following the submission of his second dossier 96 enforcement notices have been issued with 100% compliance.

According to the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) unfair surcharges costs consumers in Scotland around £36m each year.

Speaking ahead of the meeting Moray’s SNP MSP said:

“We’ve made a lot of progress with the campaign securing cross party support, enforcement action has been taken by the Advertising Standards Authority, and now the Scottish Government has launched its new Fairer Deliveries for All action plan. 

“However, responsibility for the regulation of parcel deliveries is reserved and I’m looking forward to taking my parcel delivery charges campaign to Westminster and to sitting down with the UK Government Minister to make the very strong case for action to end these rip off surcharges once and for all.

“With Christmas fast approaching it is frustrating that another year has passed with little action from the UK Government to tackle rip off surcharges for deliveries to the north of Scotland.  I will be pushing the UK Government hard to make sure that this is the last Christmas where folk in Scotland have to put up with discriminatory charges.”