Scottish Government ministers Fergus Ewing and Richard Lochhead met representatives from Royal Mail and four other parcel delivery operators, along with managers from eBay, Argos, Homebase and the Scottish Retail Consortium in Edinburgh yesterday.

The meeting was called by watchdog Consumer Focus Scotland after it found nearly one in three people struggles to get their parcels because of inconvenient opening hours at local delivery offices, while one in 10 said collection points are too far away.

Also discussed was the "postcode penalty" paid by people living in rural areas for parcel deliveries – which can add 500% to the delivery charge.

Trisha McAuley, senior director at Consumer Focus Scotland, said: "People tell us they want fair and transparent charges, a wider choice of collection points, more convenient opening hours and interactive, up to the minute delivery information to tap into.

"It's time to create 21st century delivery services for the whole of Scotland."

A Citizens Advice Scotland spokesman added: "Many Scots are being routinely ripped off by unfair and unjustifiable delivery charges just because of where they live."

Enterprise Minister Mr Ewing said: "We need to agree the tangible steps to improve parcel services to remote areas."