The Postal Services Act 2000 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2003

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes consequential and supplementary provision in connection with the commencement of the provisions of the Postal Services Act 2000.

Article 1 provides for citation, commencement and extent. Article 1(3) provides that the Order does not extend to the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. Article 1(4) provides that subject to Article 1(3), the modifications in the Order have the same extent as the Act modified.

Article 2 provides that references to the Post Office in the Post Office Works Act 1959 and the Post Office Subway Act 1966 are to have effect as if they were references to the Post Office company and its relevant subsidiaries.

Article 3 gives effect to the modifications specified in Schedule 1 (amendments) and Schedule 2 (repeals and revocations).

Article 4 makes transitional and saving provisions. Article 4(1) provides that the repeal of the entry in Schedule 4 to the Public Health Act 1961 does not affect permissions granted under that section before the coming into force of this Order. Article 4(2) provides that the amendments to the Theft Act 1968 and the Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 do not apply in relation to offences committed before the coming into force of this Order. Article 4(3) provides that the repeal of a saving on the previous repeal of an enactment does not affect the operation of the saving so far as it remains capable of having effect.

Schedule 1 makes three consequential amendments. Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 1 insert the terms “mail bag” and “postal packet” (as defined in section 125(1) of the Postal Services Act 2000) into the Theft Act of 1968 and the Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969. Paragraph 3 of Schedule 1 replaces the reference to “Post Office” in section 139(3) of the Post Office Act 1969 with a reference to a universal service provider, within the meaning of the Postal Services Act 2000, in connection with the provision of a universal postal service, within the meaning of that Act.

Schedule 2 makes various repeals and revocations in consequence of the Postal Services Act 2000.