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Ardmore Peninsula, Sutherland (Mail Deliveries)

: That is a good story and I am pleased that the hon. Gentleman has relayed it to the House this morning. The hon. Gentleman asked whether the health and safety exemption was temporary or permanent and put a question mark over any permanency. There may be points on which the health and safety exemption could be made permanent, but I imagine that the situation that we are discussing is remediable if the track is improved to such a level that it becomes safe for Post Office officials to walk it. Exceptions are, in any event, subject to annual review or an intermediate review at a customer's reasonable request, so the matter would always be open to reinspection. I firmly believe that the Government have established the right framework not only for the postal services market and Royal Mail, but to deal with the problems that have arisen in the specific case that we are discussing. We have given Royal Mail greater commercial freedom in the public sector, established independent regulation as required by the EU postal services directive, and strengthened consumer representation. Postcomm's primary duty remains to ensure the provision of the universal service obligation. Adequate procedures are in place to examine exceptions to the universal postal service. They are being applied in the present case and are ongoing. It is not for the Government to become involved in decisions on deliveries to specific areas; that is, rightly, Postcomm's ultimate responsibility. I am confident that Postcomm is fulfilling its duty correctly in this instance and I hope that, after 1 December, when the final phase 4 inspection takes place, a satisfactory compromise can be agreed between the hon. Gentleman's constituents and Royal Mail. I congratulate him on raising his constituents' concerns so effectively in the House today.