Pledge over postal deliveries in wake of sell-off

There had been fears that the universal service obligation could be under threat after Business Secretary Vince Cable threw his weight behind a report on the future of the Royal Mail, which said significant amounts of private capital were needed to keep the business afloat.

Last week the TUC backed a campaign by the Communication Workers Union to oppose plans to privatise the business, saying hundreds of post offices would close and the universal postal service end if it were sold.

But yesterday at the Liberal Democrat's gathering in Liverpool, Tavish Scott, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats said: "I want to be very clear what a future postal service for Scotland must be. Yes explore how best to keep Royal Mail solvent, to stabilise the business, to modernise the network.

"But three conditions, three Scottish conditions apply to reform.

"So conference, I am delighted to tell you that I have secured an agreement from our Business Secretary, Vince Cable.

"He has confirmed today, firstly the universal service obligation is a copper-bottomed guarantee. Posties delivering the same letter at the same price, anywhere in the UK, whether it is Kensington or Kyelachlan.

"Second, Labour's Post Office closure programme, which saw 1,000 close in Scotland will be halted. That is because we know that in many areas Post Offices are part of the community.

"Thirdly, posties will be allowed shares in their company."

In a wide-ranging speech Mr Scott also stressed the importance of defence jobs to Scotland. There have been doubts over the future of two new aircraft carriers, already partially under construction at Rosyth in Fife and on the Clyde, as well as RAF bases north of the border as part of a sweeping review of defence spending.

Mr Scott said: "Thousands of people in Glasgow and in Fife are using the skills passed down through 12 generations to meet our country's defence needs.

"Aircraft carriers are being built in Scotland right now.

"Wipe away those skills and that knowledge and it may not return. We may never be able to build warships again.

"It's that serious. The social and economic consequences will be staggering."

But the Scottish National Party's postal affairs spokesman, Mike Weir called Mr Scott's claim "phoney" and added: "It is simply inconceivable that the universal service obligation could survive in its current form after privatisation."