BIRKENHEAD MP Frank Field is hailing an important step towards the protection of the Universal Postal Service, following a successful campaign in the House of Commons.

In June, Frank called on the regulators to undertake a full review of so-called “end-to-end” postal competition as a matter of urgency, and to determine quickly any changes needed to prevent the system from being undermined by competition.

Ofcom, the postal service regulator, has since written to Frank to confirm it will assess any potential threats to the provision of the universal postal service by the end of 2015 at the latest, and will act quickly to protect the service should any threats be identified.

The move follows concern that Royal Mail’s ability to deliver services across the country might be undermined by the expansion of TNT’s end-to-end postal services in big cities.

Frank said: “Had the regulators allowed companies to cherry-pick a handful of postal services in their preferred parts of the country, our six-day-a-week postal service would have been under threat.

“Ofcom has therefore given us a welcome assurance that it will step in to protect the postal services we currently rely on, should Royal Mail’s ability to deliver this be undermined.’