A ROUNDTABLE MEETING is being organised in the Scottish Parliament to press forward a case for halting the discriminatory delivery charges being placed on Moray-based online customers.
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead says he will organise the meeting and bring together stakeholders from throughout the industry.
They will consider what, if any, progress has been made since the Statement of Principles for Parcel Deliveries was first published in 2014 – and what more could be done to tackle the ongoing issue that is also taxing the mind of local MP Douglas Ross, who made it a major target in his maiden speech at the UK Parliament in Westminster.
Many instances of excessive charges have been highlighted by Moray’s political leaders for several years, forcing some larger nationals to back down to public pressure.
Richard Lochhead said: “I’m delighted that we’re getting round the table to discuss the effectiveness of previous measures aimed at tackling discriminatory parcel delivery charges that are driving up costs for households and businesses in many parts of the country.
“The fact that we’ve seen companies being persuaded to change their delivery charges policies shows that change is achievable and that even companies that are charging ridiculously high delivery rates accept they can’t be justified.
“Delivery charges are a huge issue for my constituents and consumers right across the North of Scotland. It’s infuriating to order goods and then find out there are whopping great delivery charges especially when the impression is given that there is free delivery.
“As people do more shopping online, more people in rural areas will be getting fleeced – unless we do something about it. This meeting is an opportunity to explore what can be done to prevent that.”