Amendments to strengthen Postal Services Bill

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/Detail.as ... IS+News%29" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Government has today published a number of amendments to strengthen the Postal Services Bill. The changes incorporate feedback from MPs, Lords, Royal Mail, other postal operators and the Communication Workers Union, as well as other interested parties.

The Bill, which has been approved by the House of Commons and is currently being considered by the House of Lords, is designed to secure the long-term future of two cornerstones of British life – the Royal Mail and the Post Office.

Amendments include:

New powers for the regulator, Ofcom, to allow them to better monitor any potential threats to the universal service arising from end-to-end competition.
A new requirement on Ofcom to have regard to the need for the universal service provider to earn a reasonable commercial rate of return on the provision of that service.
Ensuring that Royal Mail can remain the sole provider of the universal service for at least the next ten years.

These changes will give further clarity to the regulatory regime and enable the regulator to strike the right balance between competition and safeguarding the universal service – ensuring that Royal Mail can continue to deliver to the UK’s 28 million addresses, six days a week.

Other changes will ensure that:

Government reports more information to Parliament, including details of the ongoing commercial relationship between Royal Mail and the Post Office.
Parliament has the opportunity to scrutinise and vote on proposals for the mutualisation of Post Office Ltd in the future.

Minister for Postal Affairs, Edward Davey, said:

"Royal Mail is facing some huge challenges – falling mail volumes, a vast pension deficit, less efficiency than its competitors and an urgent need for more capital.

“The number one reason we are taking action is to ensure that the universal postal service is protected in the face of these challenges and that Royal Mail can keep delivering and collecting letters 6 days a week at an affordable, one-price-goes-anywhere tariff.

“Politicians, Royal Mail, other postal operators and the Communication Workers Union are also determined to safeguard the universal postal service. We have listened to their suggestions and made a series of changes that will further strengthen the legislation.

“These important amendments will give extra regulatory certainty to Royal Mail and increase transparency by putting even more reporting requirements on the Government.”

The amendments will be debated by Peers at the Report stage of the Bill.

Notes to editors

The Postal Services Bill will enable private sector investment into Royal Mail, and it will allow Government to take on the company's historic pension deficit. The Post Office network will not be for sale and has the opportunity to move to a mutual ownership model in the future. The Bill will also transfer regulatory responsibility for the postal sector from Postcomm to Ofcom, the communications regulator.
The Postal Services Bill and an accompanying policy statement which explains the Government’s approach can be accessed here http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/business ... -bill-2010" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.
The Postal Services Bill has been informed by the recommendations of Richard Hooper CBE in his independent updated report on the future of the universal postal service. "Saving the Royal Mail's universal postal service in the digital age" was published on 10 September 2010. This report can be accessed here http://www.bis.gov.uk/hooper-report" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.
Details of all amendments tabled to the Bill can be found on the UK Parliament website: http://services.parliament.uk/bills/201 ... vices.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
An online video on the Postal Services Bill from Postal Affairs Minister Edward Davey can be found here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNqswvLPeRM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.
A further Q&A can be found here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9ig0AbhqTs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
BIS's online newsroom contains the latest press notices, speeches, as well as video and images for download. It also features an up to date list of BIS press office contacts. See http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for more information

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[dvbuk55]

Far be it ...............but would you buy a second hand car from this Government ..............and please, please don't say it's a new understanding and trust. What would they not say to get this bill through.......remember the Libdems and their election promises...........

[DGP1]

Far be it ...............but would you buy a second hand car from this Government ..............and please, please don't say it's a new understanding and trust. What would they not say to get this bill through.......remember the Libdems and their election promises...........

I remember those magic beans being sold by RM/CWU that a lot of people bought so I suppose there are people out there who would believe all the stories politicians tell them

[dvbuk55]

Far be it ...............but would you buy a second hand car from this Government ..............and please, please don't say it's a new understanding and trust. What would they not say to get this bill through.......remember the Libdems and their election promises...........

I remember those magic beans being sold by RM/CWU that a lot of people bought so I suppose there are people out there who would believe all the stories politicians tell them

Ah those heady days DG, I was on my way to market to sell a cow..............the next thing I know I'm working harder for less money on the recommendation of some magic bean seller.............."the deal of the century beans, the rewards beans"........too late you find out that there really isn't any magic beans.....................just has beens

[30+YEARMAN]

WHAT FALLING VOLUMES OF MAIL? AND HOW ARE WE LESS EFFICIENT THAN OUR COMPETITORS?.NOBODY ELSE DELIVERS LETTERS EXCEPT US.WHAT A LOAD OF BOLLOCKS.

[pokos27]

i wish they would change the script, the employees all know its s**t.
The CWU agreement has led the loss of wages to many postmen, and increases in workload, as they reduced the number of men to do ips.