Plea by MP Jamie Stone on 'fair and equal' delivery charges
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NORTH MP Jamie Stone is demanding “fair and equal” delivery charges across the whole of the UK.
He was speaking during a Westminster debate looking at how additional delivery charges affect parts of Scotland.
Despite claims of nationwide flat fees for delivery, businesses can apply delivery surcharges for “remote and rural” areas or refuse delivery altogether.
Mr Stone, the Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, said he recognised the initiatives taken by Consumeradvice.scot and Highland Council trading standards in encouraging people to report and complain. But he called for much firmer statutory rules to ensure business compliance with advertised delivery charges.
Speaking during the debate, Mr Stone said: “If you want to enable people to live and prosper in the Highlands, you have to ensure that the economic climate in which they live is on the same level playing field as other parts of the UK. What we know about delivery charges means that this is not at all the case.
“We’ll have to put in place a framework of legislation with real teeth to ensure that fair and equal delivery charges apply the length and breadth of the UK.”
The minister for small business, consumers and corporate responsibility, Kelly Tolhurst, replied: “This is not a quick-fix issue and I am unconvinced at the moment of the need for further legislation, but it does not mean it’s being ignored and I look forward to hearing of further progress of the work of the CPP [Consumer Protection Partnership] and the Scottish Government’s own initiative.”
Speaking after the debate, Mr Stone said: “I’m glad that for once we have a minister who understands that there is a problem. However, I believe that the solution would involve some cast-iron rules that say a firm ‘no’ to the type of selling that leaves my constituents paying an unfair extra price for delivery.
“In my speech I said that while I wouldn’t want to exaggerate my language, the fact is that if the overall cost of living in the remote Highlands becomes to great for people to bear, and this results in them deciding to go south and away, then this would be incredibly sad.”
