Postal Services Act 2000

1. Introduction

2. Summary

3. Background

4. Commentary on Sections

   1. Part I Introductory

      1. Section 1: The Postal Services Commission

      2. Section 2: The Consumer Council for Postal Services

      3. Section 3: Duty of the Commission to ensure provision of a universal postal service

      4. Section 4: Provision of a universal postal service: meaning

      5. Section 5: Other duties of the Commission in the consumer interest

   2. Part II Licences for Postal Services

      1. Section 6: Restriction on provision of postal services

      2. Section 7: Exceptions from section 6

      3. Section 8: Power to modify section 7 by order

      4. Section 9: General power to suspend the restriction

      5. Section 10: Emergency power to suspend the restriction

      6. Section 11: Licences: general

      7. Section 12: Licences: grant

      8. Section 13: Licences: conditions and other provisions

      9. Section 14: Modification of licences by agreement

      10. Section 15: References to the Competition Commission

      11. Section 16: Reports on references

      12. Section 17: Modification following report

      13. Section 18: Power of intervention of the Competition Commission

      14. Section 19: Procedural requirements in relation to modifications

      15. Section 20: Application of competition legislation to references

      16. Section 21: Modification by order under other enactments

      17. Section 22: Final orders

      18. Sections 23 and 24: Provisional orders

      19. Section 25: Exceptions from the duty to make or confirm enforcement orders

      20. Sections 26 and 27: Procedural requirements

      21. Section 28: Validity of enforcement orders

      22. Section 29: Effect of enforcement orders

      23. Section 30: Financial penalties

      24. Section 31: Statement of policy in relation to penalties

      25. Sections 32 and 33: Penalties

      26. Section 34: Time-limits on the imposition of penalties

      27. Sections 35 and 37: Interest and payments by instalments; recovery of penalties

      28. Section 36: Appeals

      29. Section 38: Register

      30. Section 39: Recovery of costs of the Council

      31. Section 40: Directors’ remuneration

      32. Section 41: Free services for the blind and partially sighted

   3. Part III Other Functions of the Commission and the Council

      1. Section 42: Duties in relation to public post offices

      2. Section 43: Duties in relation to social and environmental matters

      3. Section 44: Review and information

      4. Section 45: Annual and other reports: the Commission

      5. Section 46: Publication of information and advice: the Commission

      6. Section 47: Power of the Commission to require information

      7. Section 48: Information powers: enforcement

      8. Section 49: Powers of entry and seizure

      9. Section 50: Codes of practice

      10. Section 51: Relevant postal issues

      11. Section 52: Provision of advice and information to public authorities and licence holders

      12. Section 53: Publication of information to users

      13. Section 54: Exercise of functions: general

      14. Section 55: Annual and other reports: the Council

      15. Section 56: Complaints referred to the Council

      16. Section 57: Power of the Council to investigate other matters

      17. Section 58: Power of the Council to require information

      18. Section 59: Provision of information by the Council to the Commission

      19. Section 60: Memorandum of understanding

      20. Section 61: Forward work programmes

   4. Part IV Reorganisation of the Post Office

      1. Section 62: Transfer of property to nominated company

      2. Section 63: Government holding in the Post Office company and certain subsidiaries

      3. Section 64: Government investment in securities of the Post Office company and its subsidiaries

      4. Section 65: Restriction on issue of shares to third parties

      5. Section 66: Restriction on disposals of shares to third parties

      6. Section 67: Approved disposals

      7. Section 68: Loans by the Secretary of State to the Post Office company and its subsidiaries

      8. Section 69: Guarantees by the Secretary of State for the Post Office company and its subsidiaries

      9. Sections 70, 72 and 74: Provisions about financial restructuring

      10. Section 71: Limit on loans and other arrangements with government

      11. Section 73: Statutory accounts of the Post Office company

      12. Section 75: Dissolution of the Post Office

      13. Section 76: Accounts of the Secretary of State in relation to loans

      14. Section 77: Publicity requirements for certain accounts and reports of the Post Office company

      15. Section 78: Information requirements on the Post Office company

      16. Section 79: Exercise of functions through nominees

      17. Section 80: Shadow directors

      18. Section 81: Tax

      19. Section 82: Interpretation

   5. Part V Offences in Relation to Postal Services

      1. Section 83: Interfering with the mail: postal operators

      2. Section 84: Interfering with the mail: general

      3. Section 85: Prohibition on sending certain articles by post

      4. Section 86: Prohibition on affixing advertisements on certain letter boxes

      5. Section 87: Prohibition on misleading descriptions

      6. Section 88: Obstruction of business of universal service providers

   6. Part VI Universal Postal Service: Supplementary

      1. Sections 89, 90, 91 and 92: Schemes and limitation of liability

      2. Section 93: Power to modify sections 89 to 92

      3. Section 94: Power to require carriage of mail-bags by ship or aircraft

      4. Section 95: Provision relating to land

      5. Section 96: Immunity from prosecution

      6. Section 97: Harbour charges on mail-bags

      7. Section 98: Mail-bags not to be subject to control by harbour authorities

      8. Section 99: Common carriers

      9. Section 100: Certain exemptions from postage

   7. Part VII Miscellaneous and Supplementary

      1. Section 101: Directions in interests of national security

      2. Section 102: Power to ensure compliance with the Postal Services Directive

      3. Section 103: Subsidy for public post offices

      4. Section 104: Inviolability of mails

      5. Section 105: Application of Customs and Excise enactments to certain postal packets

      6. Section 106: Power to detain postal packets containing contraband

      7. Section 107: Conditions of transit of postal packets

      8. Sections 108/109/110: Evidential provisions

      9. Section 111/112/113/114: Provisions relating to postal and money orders

      10. Section 115: Extension of existing powers relating to the Post Office

      11. Section 116: The Postcode Address File

      12. Section 117: Records of the former Postmaster General’s department

      13. Section 118: Supplementary provisions relating to the Council

      14. Section 119: General restrictions on disclosure of information

      15. Section 120: Offences by body corporate

      16. Section 121: Service of documents

      17. Section 122: Orders and regulations

      18. Section 123: Directions

      19. Sections 124 to 131 General and financial provisions

   8. Schedule 1

      1. The Postal Services Commission

   9. Schedule 2

      1. The Consumer Council for Postal Services

   10. Schedule 3

       1. Transfer to the Post Office company: supplementary provisions

   11. Schedule 4

       1. Transfer to the Post Office company: Tax

   12. Schedule 5

       1. Acquisition of Land

   13. Schedule 6

       1. Further provisions relating to land

   14. Schedule 7

       1. Disclosure of information

   15. Schedule 8

       1. Amendments of enactments

   16. Schedule 9

       1. Repeals and revocations

5. Commencement

6. Hansard References