David Henderson

Island businesses in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles face increasingly unreliable Royal Mail deliveries, forcing owners to buy backup equipment and manage tighter deadlines for key occasions. Consumer Scotland reports widespread surcharges, delayed hospital letters and fragile delivery systems that hinder local economies, urging clearer pricing, minimum service standards and inclusion of island postcodes in Ofcom targets. Royal Mail cites dependency on weather‑affected ferry and air routes and highlights a £500m investment plan, while Ofcom continues investigating national underperformance and potential further penalties. The UK government says it will maintain Universal Service Obligation requirements and hold Royal Mail accountable.