Postcomm modifies UK Mail’s licence

Following consultation, Postcomm today approved a modification to the interim postal licence held by UK Mail Ltd.
The modification will allow UK Mail to carry out a wider range of activities for its existing business customers in the event of industrial action by Royal Mail workers, or an emergency or a natural disaster.
Currently UK Mail is required by its licence to pass all mail to Consignia for delivery. The modification will allow the company to deliver mail itself.
Notes for Editors
The modification would come into operation in the event of 24 hour official industrial action that 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 that 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 an emergency or natural disaster.
The text of the licence is on Postcomm’s website www.postcomm.gov.uk. Copies are available from Postcomm at 6 Hercules Road, London SE1 7DB.
Postcomm – the Postal Services Commission – is an independent regulator. It has been set up to further the interests of users of postal services. Postcomm’s other main tasks are to:
Seek to ensure a universal postal service at an affordable uniform tariff
Encourage competition in postal services
License postal operators
Control Consignia’s prices and quality of service
Give advice to Government on the future of the post office network.
Postcomm’s policies are steered by a board of seven commissioners, headed by the chairman, Graham Corbett CBE.