British Regulator Issues Three More Licences
The UK’s postal regulator said on Wednesday it had issued three further one-year interim postal service licences as part of plans to open state-owned Consignia’s market to competition. In a statement, Postcomm said it had awarded the licences to Securicor Omega Express [Surrey, UK], Datarun [London] and London Underground Ltd [London], following a 30-day consultation period. Securicor had applied for a licence to provide internal courier services for HSBC and Royal Bank of Scotland, while London Underground wanted to provide an internal mail service between itself, other members of the London Regional Transport group and the Transport for London group. Datarun wanted a licence to allow it to deliver addressed mail in addition to the publications it already distributes. Postcomm has already granted a handful of interim licences for small-scale business postal services to firms including Britain’s Hays Plc, Business Post Group Plc, privately-owned Deya Ltd and Dutch logistics firm TNT Post Groep NV. A final decision on plans to open state-owned Consignia’s postal market to competition by 2006 is expected from the regulator before the end of May.
Press Release from Postcomm:
Postcomm issues three more interim licences
On 22 May, following a consultation exercise, Postcomm issued short-term licences to Securicor Omega Express, Datarun and London Underground Ltd, to provide postal services on 22 May.
Securicor Omega Express will provide internal mail services for two clients in the banking sector, Royal Bank of Scotland and HSBC.
Datarun will deliver letters connected with the publications it delivers to addresses in Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester and Warrington.
London Underground Ltd’s licence will enable it to convey letters between the London Regional Transport Group and Transport for London.
All licences will run for one year.
Notes
This announcement follows a 30-day consultation on each licence. All licences take effect immediately.
The delivery of publications is exempt from licensing. However a licence is needed if a letter – such as an invoice or subscription renewal – is included. Up to now these have had to be sent by Royal Mail.
The text of the decision documents, consultation papers and the licences are published on Postcomm’s website www.postcomm.gov.uk . Printed copies are available from Postcomm at 6 Hercules Road, London SE1 7DB.
