Postcomm consults on licence modifications for Hays and TNT

On 24 May Postcomm began consultation on applications from Hays Commercial Services and TNT UK Ltd for modifications to their interim postal licences.

The companies wish to be able to carry out a wider range of activities for their existing business customers in the event of industrial action by Royal Mail workers or an emergency or a natural disaster.

If granted, the modification would allow Hays to increase the amount of mail it is allowed to carry for customers of its document exchange and Mailine services in the event of a dispute or disaster.

TNT holds two licences to provide mail services to two financial services businesses. It has asked for a modification to one of these to enable it to provide extra business-to-business mail services for a limited number of contracted business customers.

Notes

If the modifications are granted, Hays and TNT will be able to provide the mail services in the event of official industrial action which involves three or more mail centres. The services may be provided for a period of 14 days or three times the length of the official industrial action, whichever is the longer.

For disruption which falls outside these criteria — such as unofficial industrial action — Postcomm would need to make a determination before extra mail services could be provided, and would consult Postwatch, the consumer watchdog first. A determination from Postcomm would also be needed to trigger extra mail services in the event of a emergency or natural disaster.

Hays’ Mailine service delivers packages and documents to travel agents, opticians, insurance companies and the like.

The deadline for responses to the consultation is 24 June 2002. The consultation and text of the proposed licences can be found on Postcomm’s website www.postcomm.gov.uk. Copies are available from Postcomm at 6 Hercules Road, London SE1 7DB.