UK Government: Howells announces appointments to new Consumer Council for postal services

UK Government: Howells announces appointments to new Consumer Council for
postal services
From M2 COMMUNICATIONS, December 29th, 2000

DEC 29, 2000, M2 Communications – Dr Kim Howells, Minister for Consumer Affairs, today announced the members of the new Consumer Council for Postal Services (CCPS) which begins its work on 1 January 2001.

Created under the Postal Services Act 2000, the CCPS will champion the rights of all the users of postal services in the UK. The role of the Council will involve:
· monitoring the targets set by the regulator on quality of service, complaints handling and compensation;
· dealing with complaints and providing training, advice and support to the regional offices;
· developing policy on service issues with the Post Office and other licensees as they come on stream;

· advising on licence issues; and
· commissioning research and gathering information from regional sources on issues affecting consumers.

The CCPS will be chaired by Peter Carr, currently the Chairman of the Post Office Users’ National Council and will have nine regional offices.
Dr Howells said: “A strong and effective Consumer Council will ensure that all consumers enjoy a high standard from their postal services. I believe we have a team that will deliver this.
“The Consumer Council for Postal Services will work closely with the Postal Services Commission, the industry and consumers to ensure that the UK has a vibrant, competitive postal market and an efficient and effective Post Office in the 21st century.” The membership of the new Council is: Tom Begg OBE, Regional Chair Scotland Eifion Pritchard, Regional Chair Wales Sir John Semple KCB, Regional Chair Northern Ireland Robert Burgin, Regional Chair Eastern England Kay Dixon, Regional Chair Greater London Judith Donovan CBE, Regional Chair Northern England Charles Howeson, Regional Chair South West Peter Privett, Regional Chair South East Richard Ward, Regional Chair Midlands Moi Ali; Diane Bailey; Janet Candler; and Ann Foster.
Peter Carr said: “The postal industry is entering a period of fundamental
change and as a consequence the need for consumer representation has never
been greater. The CCPS will satisfy that need through the strength of its
Council and the effectiveness of its regional structure.” Biographical
details
Tom Begg OBE is currently a Lecturer in Consumer Studies at Queen Margaret
University College, Edinburgh. He has been a member of the Post Office
Users
Council, Scotland (POUCS) since 1993, and Chairman since 1999. He has also
been a member of the Post Office Users National Council (POUNC) since
1999. He
was a member of the Board of Scottish Homes from 1988 to 1995. He has been involved extensively in teaching and writing on consumer affairs. Tom was awarded his OBE in 1991 for “Services to Housing in Scotland”. Dr Begg lives in Stirling, Scotland. Other Public Appointments: Chair, POUCS, appointed by DTI, Up to end 31/12/00, GBP69 per day; Member of POUNC, appointed by DTI, Up to end 31/12/00, Unpaid.
Eifion Pritchard is currently Chairman of the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust. He has been Chairman of the Post Office Users Council, Wales since 1997 and a member of POUNC since 1997. In a voluntary capacity Mr Pritchard is a Trustee of Dyfed Powys RELATE and a panel member of the Prince’s Trust, Youth Business Section. He was formerly a senior Police Officer with the North Wales and Dyfed Powys Police forces and he has a total of 36 years service working within the Police force. He had previously served in the Merchant Navy as a Navigating Officer. He is a holder of the Queen’s Police Medal (QPM). Mr Pritchard lives in Carmarthen, Wales. Other Public Appointments: Chair, POUCW, Appointed by DTI, Ends 31 Dec 2000, GBP69 per day, Average of 12 days per calendar quarter; Chair, Welsh Ambulance Trust, Appointed by Secretary of State for Wales, End March 2002, GBP22,040 per annum.
Sir John Semple KCB retired in August 2000