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Business under-secretary of state Blair McDougall told MPs he had been advised there are currently three vacancies at the Exmouth delivery office and said he expects the roles to be filled to improve service locally.
The comments came during a Westminster Hall debate on Wednesday, March 18, led by Exmouth and Exeter East MP David Reed, who warned that trust in Royal Mail is declining among residents.
Mr Reed said: “If there was one word to sum it all up, it would be ‘trust’- trust in the Royal Mail service and in an institution that has been a constant in British life for over 500 years. But we all know that that trust is waning.”
He told MPs he has little confidence in delivery times, reflecting concerns raised by constituents.
“I have very little confidence in when a letter would arrive if I sent one today,” he said.
The MP said Royal Mail has failed to meet key delivery targets for three consecutive years, despite rising stamp prices, describing the situation as “completely unacceptable”.
He also highlighted confusion over slower bulk mail services, often used for NHS letters and bank correspondence, which can take several days to arrive. Residents may receive no post for long periods before multiple items arrive together, he said.
Mr Reed stressed that local posties were not to blame, pointing instead to wider structural issues within the organisation and increasing pressure on staff.
He added that delayed deliveries can have serious consequences, including missed hospital appointments, late legal documents and disruption to everyday life.
Responding, Mr McDougall acknowledged “growing anger about failures of service” and said the Government is pressing Royal Mail to improve performance.
He said: “The Government remain absolutely committed to the universal postal service, which is an essential part of our economic infrastructure. It can and should be delivered.”
The minister confirmed he has raised concerns directly with Royal Mail’s leadership and expects sustained improvements, rather than short-term fixes. He added that regulators are prepared to act if performance does not improve.
Mr Reed said there is cross-party agreement that the service must improve, warning that ongoing problems are affecting residents, postal workers and public services.
He said: “People are not receiving post such as NHS letters or important legal documents. These issues are affecting posties’ morale, and they are affecting our democracy.”
He called on Royal Mail to improve communication with customers and rebuild trust in the service.
