Royal Mail’s hopes to end Saturday deliveries have been dealt a blow by ministers who have recommended there should be no change to the current six day service.
Royal Mail, owned by International Distributions Services PLC, had warned that its poor financial performance will continue unless ministers let the company abandon Saturday letter deliveries.
It argued that the decline of letters means its current programme of deliveries is financially unviable.
However, business minister Kevin Hollinrake told the company that the Government has no plans to review its so-called universal service obligation.
"We currently have no plans to change the minimum requirements of the universal postal service as set out in the Postal Services Act 2011 (the Act), including 6-day letter deliveries," he said.
"Postal services have long played, and continue to play, a key role in our society," he added, noting "the ability to send and receive letters and parcels is important both socially and economically."
"This is particularly true for consumers who might be more vulnerable, such as those who are geographically or digitally isolated from their friends and family."