Motion text
That this House notes that low level letter boxes cause back injuries to postmen and women each year, force postal staff to stoop to ground level whilst carrying mail items and thus can cause back strain; further notes that low level letter boxes also present an increased risk of dog bites; also notes that the Communications Workers Union are calling for a standardised letter box height and safe design well above ground level and that they have been campaigning to outlaw low level letterboxes for many years, first raising the issue back in 1958; also notes that the EU standard requirement is for letterboxes to be at a height accessible to postal workers, significantly reducing possible injuries such as dog bites, fingers being trapped, or back strain caused when bending excessively or repeatedly to reach ground level boxes; also notes that this has not been enshrined into UK building standards and that low level letter boxes have been outlawed in many European countries, such as the Republic of Ireland in 2001; also notes that 154,000 days were lost in sick leave from Royal Mail in 2022 due to back pain, costing the Royal Mail £16 million, and that injury could be minimised by legislation to cover the manufacture of all new and replacement doors to have standardised letter box height and safe design well above ground level; and calls on government to promote the EU standard.
Signatures (22)
The first 6 Members who have signed to support the motion are the sponsors. The primary sponsor is generally the person who tabled the motion and has responsibility for it. The date shown is when the Member signed the motion.
Foy, Mary Kelly
Labour
Signed on
17 October 2024
Adam, Shockat
Independent
Signed on
17 October 2024
Webb, Chris
Labour
Signed on
21 October 2024
Maguire, Helen
Liberal Democrat
Signed on
21 October 2024
Duncan-Jordan, Neil
Labour
Signed on
21 October 2024
Shannon, Jim
Democratic Unionist Party
Signed on
21 October 2024
In addition to the sponsors, the following Members have signed to support the motion.
Trickett, Jon
Labour
Signed on
21 October 2024
Law, Chris
Scottish National Party
Signed on
21 October 2024
Khan, Ayoub
Independent
Signed on
21 October 2024
Lavery, Ian
Labour
Signed on
22 October 2024
George, Andrew
Liberal Democrat
Signed on
22 October 2024
Osborne, Kate
Labour
Signed on
22 October 2024
Morris, Grahame
Labour
Signed on
22 October 2024
Leishman, Brian
Labour
Signed on
23 October 2024
Butler, Dawn
Labour
Signed on
23 October 2024
Denyer, Carla
Green Party
Signed on
28 October 2024
McDonnell, John
Independent
Signed on
4 November 2024
Burgon, Richard
Independent
Signed on
14 November 2024
Berry, Siân
Green Party
Signed on
15 January 2025
Al-Hassan, Sadik
Labour
Signed on
25 April 2025
These members had previously signed the motion, but have now withdrawn their support. The date shown is when the Member withdrew their signature from the motion.