Delivery charge Bill is good news for consumers – Carmichael

Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has welcomed the introduction of a Private Members Bill  to tackle companies who overcharge for delivery to rural areas.

If passed, the bill will force online retailers to make it clearer if they charge extra to deliver to Scottish regions.

Mr Carmichael said: “Too often online retailers feel that they can have one policy for the mainland and one policy for Orkney and Shetland. I know that I am not the only person to find this infuriating. I have even heard of people having orders cancelled by companies who simply refuse to deliver to the isles.”

He added: “I know that the Bill to hold a referendum on the European Union is likely to take up a lot of parliamentary time and there is a risk that Bob’s Bill may not have enough time to progress through Parliament. If that appears to be the case then I will be speaking to government ministers to see if there are other avenues which we may pursue to implement this sensible proposal.”