Deliveries to north 'cost more'

The MPs claim customers are being charged double the normal fee

The cost of delivering parcels to the Highlands and Islands has come under fire from five of the region's MPs.

The Liberal Democrats accused mail order companies of "excessive and discriminatory" delivery charges.

Their criticism is contained in a parliamentary motion tabled in the House of Commons.

Danny Alexander, Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey MP, said people are being told it costs double the price of delivering to other areas.

He added that he cannot see any economic justification for the higher charges for customers in the north.

The extra cost of parcel deliveries to the Highlands and Islands is a growing problem Charles Kennedy MP

The motion has also been supported by Alistair Carmichael MP for Orkney and Shetland; Ross, Skye & Lochaber MP Charles Kennedy; Alan Reid MP for Argyll and Bute and John Thurso MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross.

Mr Carmichael said he had received complaints from people in the Northern Isles about the cost of having goods ordered from catalogues or over the internet delivered.

He called on the government to take the matter seriously.

Mr Kennedy added: "The extra cost of parcel deliveries to the Highlands and Islands is a growing problem.

"It is important that customers are given the right to request that companies use the parcel delivery service offered by the Royal Mail which is often better value for money."