Postcomm consults on terms and conditions for its standard postal licence
4 July 2002
Postcomm today proposed a set of terms and conditions for the standard postal licence which will enable rival operators to provide mail services in competition with Consignia. These will give effect to Postcomm’s market opening strategy which was published on 29 May 2002.
Up to now, with the exception of Consignia’s, all postal licences have been restricted to pilot schemes of 12 months duration. The new standard licence will have a minimum life of seven years. Existing holders of interim licences will be able to apply for a new standard licence so they can continue providing a postal service.
The proposed terms and conditions are published in a consultation document. They include a requirement for all postal operators to protect the mail, to set their own service standards and report on both of these annually. The document also proposes that licensed operators have arrangements, such as a guarantee, which would ensure that, if they go out of business, any undelivered mail was properly dealt with. It also seeks views on whether provision should be included to guard against overseas monopoly postal operators cross-subsidising their UK activities with profits from their monopoly businesses.
Responses to the consultation document, Licences under the Postal Services Act 2000: Standard Conditions, are requested by 12 September 2002.
