Glossary

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |

A

access 

Allowing mail users and licensed postal operators to use Royal Mail's facilities to carry their post for part of its journey.

access agreement 

Contractual agreement between Royal Mail and another postal operator or mail user that allows them to use Royal Mail’s facilities to carry post for part of its journey, for a set price per item.

access charge 

The price paid per item by a postal operator or mail user for access to Royal Mail’s network.

Alternative Mail and Parcels Limited (AMP) 

see Citipost AMP Limited.

ANC Limited 

A licensed operator, trading as ANC Express (external website).

Association of International Couriers and Express Services (AICES) 

AICES (external website) is a trade association for the courier industry.

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B

bulk mail 

Multiple mail items of the same format posted by a single user from a single site.

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C

CEN 

European Standards Committee. A European Commission working group on postal standards.  

Citipost AMP Limited 

A licensed postal operator.  Formerly known as Alternative Mail and Parcels Limited, or AMP. Citipost AMP Limited website. 

CMS 

Trading name of Royale Research Limited, a licensed postal operator. CMS website.

code identifier 

Unique three-digit code, usually known as the mail identification code, that appears on licensed mail (letters weighing less than 350g and costing less than £1 to post). The mail identification code does not appear on letters carried by Royal Mail - including mail handled under access arrangements - as this mail can easily be identified as such. (Access agreements allow mail users and licensed postal operators to use Royal Mail's facilities.)

Committee of European Postal Regulation (CERP) 

A group of national regulatory authorities in 44 countries. CERP website.

common operating procedures 

Agreed standards for dealing with mail that has entered the systems of the wrong postal operator.

Communication Managers' Association (CMA) 

Trade union with members including Royal Mail Group management. CMA website.

Communication Workers Union (CWU) 

Trade union with members including Royal Mail Group staff. CWU website.

competition 

In the postal services market, competition has meant allowing  new entrants to come into the market alongside Royal Mail.

Competitive Market Review (CMR) 

Postcomm's regular review of the level of - and barriers to - competition in the UK market.

Confederation of British Industry (CBI) 

High profile business interest group. CBI website.

Consignia 

A name adopted by Royal Mail for a short time in 2001.

consolidation 

Collection and sorting of mail from a variety of sources, before passing it to Royal Mail for delivery.

consultation document 

Set of proposals or ideas published for comment. More information about Postcomm's consultations.

Crown Post Office 

Post Office directly managed by Post Office Limited. Also known as a DMB (Directly Managed Branch). More information about Post Offices.

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D

Data Protection Act 1988

The Data Protection Act 1988 came into force on 1 March 2000. Under the Act, anyone processing personal information must comply with eight data protection principles to ensure good data handling. 

decision document 

Policy decision, taking into account responses to an earlier consultation document. More information about Postcomm's consultations.

delivery office 

Royal Mail facility at which mail is sorted into delivery sequence. 

Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR) 

Government department responsible for UK business and trade, and which acts as Royal Mail's 'shareholder'. DBERR was known as the Department of Trade and Industry until June 2007. DBERR website. 

Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) 

Government department responsible for local and regional government, housing, planning, fire, regeneration, socal exclusion and neighbourhood renewal (formerly the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister ODPM).  DCLG website.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) 

Government department that ensures access to services , including postal services. DEFRA website.

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) 

Government department dealing with employment and pension issues. DWP website.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 

Renamed the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR) in June 2007. DBERR is the government department responsible for UK business and trade, and which acts as Royal Mail's "shareholder".  DBERR website.

Deutsche Post 

German Postal Operator.

DHL Global Mail 

A licensed postal operator. DHL Global Mail website.

Direct Marketing Association (DMA) 

Trade association with members including bulk mailers. DMA website.

downstream access 

Access to Royal Mail's distribution systems at an onward mail centre or any point in the postal activity chain after that.

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E 

end-to-end licensee

A licensee that undertakes all parts of the postal activity chain: collection, sorting and "final mile" delivery.

European Standards Committee (CEN) 

 European Commission working group on postal standards.

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F 

Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) 

 Small business interest group. FSB website. 

full market opening 

Liberalisation of the UK mail market on 1 January 2006. From this date, the market was fully opened to competition. Any operator licensed by Postcomm can now offer any type of mail service in the "licensed area". (The licensed area covers all mail weighing less than 350g and costing less than £1 to post.) Full market opening followed the introduction in January 2003 of limited competition for bulk mailings of more than 4,000 items. More information about competition in the UK mail market. 

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G 

geographic average price 

 A "one price goes anywhere" postal price. For example, first and second-class stamps.

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H 

I

Information Commissioner

The Information Commissioner's Office is an independent Uk public body set up to promote and oversee access to official information and the protection of personal data. The information Commissioner regulates and enforces the Data Protection Act, the Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations and the Environmental Information Regulations. More about information legislation. 

Intercity Communications Limited 

A licensed postal operator. Intercity Communications website.

interference with mail 

A criminal offence under the Postal Services Act 2000. More information about the legal framework for postal legislation.

interim licence 

Postal licence lasting for a minimum of one year. From 1 January 2006, all postal licences will last for a minimum of ten years. More information about Postcomm's licensing regime.

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J 

K

L

liberalisation 

Opening of the mail market to competition. More information about competition in the mail market.

licence 

Official authorisation from Postcomm to provide postal services. More information about Postcomm's licensing regime.

licensee 

Holder of a postal licence. In the mail market, licensees are entities authorised by Postcomm to offer postal services in the licensed area. Licensees may also offer services outside the licensed area, and may use sub-contractors, agents or franchisees to deliver mail. More information about Postcomm's licensing regime.

licensed area 

The area of postal activity for which postal operators must have a licence: letters weighing less than 350g and costing less than £1 to post. More information about Postcomm's licensing regime.

long term licence 

Postal licence lasting for a minimum of seven years.  From 1 January 2006, all postal licences will last for a minimum of ten years. More information about Postcomm's licensing regime. 

Lynx Mail 

A licensed postal operator - trading name for Red Star Parcels Limited. Lynx Mail website.

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M   

mail centre

Royal Mail facility at which mail is sorted and sent to a delivery office. 

Mail Competition Forum (MCF) 

A trade association of licensees who are competitors to Royal Mail.

mail identification code 

Unique three-digit code, also known as a code identifier, that will appear from 1 January 2006 on licensed mail (letters weighing less than 350g and costing less than £1 to post). The mail identification code will not appear on letters carried by Royal Mail - including mail handled under access agreements - as this mail can easily be identified as such. (Access agreements allow mail users and licensed postal operators to use Royal Mail's facilities.) More information about mail identification. 

mail integrity 

Safety and security of the mail. More information about Postcomm's mail integrity code.

Mail Users' Association (MUA) 

A trade association with members including bulk mailers. MUA website.

The Mailing House Group 

A licensed postal operator. The Mailing House Group website. 

market opening 

Allowing competitors into a market that has previously been the domain of a single company. The UK mail market opened to full competition on 1 January 2006. More information about competition in the mail market. 

memorandum of understanding (MoU) 

A statement by two organisations on how they will work together.

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N 

National Audit Office (NAO) 

Government department that audits the accounts of public service organisations, including Postcomm. NAO website.

National Federation of Subpostmasters (NFSP) 

A trade union representing subpostamsters. NFSP website.

network 

Post Office branches throughout the UK. More information about Post Offices.

non-ministerial government body 

A government department not headed by a minister. Postcomm - run by a commission of eight people - is an example. More information about Postcomm.

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O   

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM)

see Department for Communities and Local Government (external website).

Office of Fair Trading (OFT) 

Government department that protects and promotes consumer interests, while ensuring that businesses are fair and competitive. OFT website.

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P 

Periodical Publishers' Association (PPA) 

A trade association with members including many bulk mailers. PPA website.

Post Office Limited (POL) 

The company that owns or franchises the network of Post Offices throughout the UK. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Mail Holdings plc. Post Office Ltd website.

postage paid impression (PPI) 

Type of pre-paid, pre-printed postage.

postal licence 

Gives authorisation to carry out postal services. More information about Postcomm's licensing regime.

Postal Services Act 2000 (PSA) 

Gives effect to the 1997 Postal Services Directive (as amended). The key piece of legislation affecting Postcomm’s work. Postcomm was set up as a statutory body under the Act, which paved the way for the development of policies that will ensure the provision of the universal service and introduce full competition to the UK mail market from 1 January 2006.

Postal Services Commission 

Also known as Postcomm or the PSC. Non-ministerial government department that is the independent regulator for the postal services market.

Postal Services Directive 1997

Postal Services Directive (as amended). Sets out common rules governing the provision of postal services across Europe.

Postcode Address File (PAF) 

Lists all UK addresses. Owned and managed by Royal Mail Group.

Postcomm 

Also known as the Postal Services Commission or PSC. Non-ministerial government department that is the independent regulator for the postal services market.

Postwatch 

Consumer organisation representing the interests of mail users, constituted under the Postal Services Act 2000. Postwatch website.

PPI 

Postage Paid Impression.  Type of pre-paid, pre-printed postage.

price control 

The framework Postcomm lays down for Royal Mail to use when setting prices. Also includes quality of service standards that Royal Mail must meet.

Pricing in Proportion 

Royal Mail’s decision to move away from prices based only on weight to a system tht also takes into account the size of items being posted.

PSC 

Also known as the Postal Services Commission or Postcomm. Non-ministerial government department that is the independent regulator for the postal services market.

public register

Searchable list of Postcomm documents, as required by the Postal Services Act 2000.

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Q 

quality of service 

Measurement of Royal Mail’s performance against the service targets set out in its licence. More information about Postcomm's work as Royal Mail's regulator.

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R 

Racer Consultancy Management Services Ltd 

A licensed postal operator. Racer Consultancy Management Services website.

Red Star Parcels Limited 

A licensed postal operator. Trades as Lynx Mail. Lynx Mail website.

Regulatory Impact Unit (RIU) 

Cabinet Office team that ensures departments properly assess the cost of regulation.

Reporting guidelines for "serious incidents" 

See mail integrity.

Royal Mail Group plc

Provider of the universal postal service. Dominant company in the UK postal market. More information about Postcomm's role as regulator of Royal Mail. Royal Mail Group website. 

Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) 

Represents the interests of people with visual impairments. RNIB website.

Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) 

Represents the interests of people with hearing impairments. RNID website.

Royale Research Limited 

A licensed postal operator. Trades as CMS. Royale Research website.

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S 

Secure Mail Services Limited

A licensed postal operator.  (Formerly known as Special Mail Services Limited). Secure Mail Services Limited website.

Secured Mail Limited 

A licensed postal operator. Secured Mail Limited's website.

Securicor Omega Express Limited 

A licensed postal operator. (Subsidiary of DHL).

size-based pricing 

see Pricing in Proportion.

sorting frames 

Frames used by postal operators to sort mail at delivery offices. 

special privileges 

Privileges, including exemption from VAT and certain parking restrictions, that apply only to Royal Mail.

standard licence 

Postal licence granted by Postcomm to postal operators other than Royal Mail. More information about Postcomm's licensing regime.  

subpostmaster 

An agent of Post Office Limited – owns a Sub Post Office. Usually also has an allied retail business. More information about Post Offices.

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T 

Target Express Parcels Limited 

A licensed postal operator. Target Express Parcels website.

terminal dues 

Payments made by a postal operator in one country to a postal operator in another for its handling of cross-border mail.

TNT Mail (TPG Post UK Limited) 

TNT is a trading name of Dutch postal operator TPG. TPG Post UK Limited is the name under which TNT is licensed as a postal operator in the UK. TNT Mail website.

TPG 

Dutch postal operator. Trades in the UK as TNT. Licensed under the name TPG Post UK Limited.

Trade and Industry Select Committee (TISC) 

House of Commons select committee whose remit includes mail issues. TISC website.

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U 

UK Mail plc 

A licensed postal operator. UK Mail's website.

universal postal service 

Postal products and associated minimum service standards that must be available to all addresses in the UK.

Universal Postal Union (UPU) 

International forum for co-operation in postal services - part of the United Nations.

universal service obligation (USO) 

Obligation to provide the universal postal service.

universal service provider 

Company that provides the universal service - Royal Mail, in the UK.

unlicensed operator 

Any postal operator not licensed by Postcomm. More information about Postcomm's licensing regime. 

upstream access 

Access to Royal Mail’s distribution systems at a point in the postal delivery chain before the onward mail centre.

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V 

W

X

Y

Z

Zip Mail Limited 

A licensed operator.  Zip Mail's website.

zonal access

When Royal Mail allows another mail user or licensed operator use of its facilities for the delivery of that organisation's own mail, and when charges for that access take into account the cost of delivering to different parts of the country.

zonal pricing 

Takes into account the cost of delivering to different parts of the country.

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