Postal Services Act 2000

Postal Services Act 2000 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 16 September 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date.

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the affected provisions when you open the content using the Table of Contents below.

Changes and effects yet to be applied to :

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

  1. Introductory Text
  2. Part I Introductory
    1. 1.The Postal Services Commission.
    2. 2.The Consumer Council for Postal Services.
    3. 3.Duty of the Commission to ensure provision of a universal postal service.
    4. 4.Provision of a universal postal service: meaning.
    5. 5.Other duties of the Commission in the consumer interest.
    1. Restriction on provision of postal services
      1. 6.Restriction on provision of postal services.
      2. 7.Exceptions from section 6.
      3. 7A.Licences for Postal Services
      4. 8.Power to modify section 7 by order.
      5. 9.General power to suspend the restriction.
      6. 10.Emergency power to suspend the restriction.
      1. 11.Licences: general.
      2. 12.Licences: grant.
      3. 12A.Licences: refusal
      4. 12B.Licences: determination of applications
      5. 13.Licences: conditions and other provisions.
      1. 14.Modification of licences by agreement.
      2. 15.References to the Competition Commission.
      3. 15A.References under section 15: time limits
      4. 15B.References under section 15: application of Enterprise Act 2002
      5. 16.Reports on references.
      6. 16A.Reports on references under section 15: further provision
      7. 17.Modification following report.
      8. 18.Power of intervention of the Competition Commission.
      9. 19.Procedural requirements in relation to modifications.
      10. 19A.Sections 18 and 19: further provision
      11. 20.Application of competition legislation to references etc.
      12. 21.Modification by order under other enactments.
      1. 22.Final orders.
      2. 23.Provisional orders.
      3. 24.Confirmation of provisional orders.
      4. 25.Exceptions from duty to make or confirm enforcement orders.
      5. 26.Enforcement orders: main procedural requirements.
      6. 27.Enforcement orders: further procedural requirements.
      7. 28.Validity of enforcement orders.
      8. 29.Effect of enforcement orders.
      1. 30.Financial penalties.
      2. 31.Statement of policy in relation to penalties.
      3. 32.Imposition of penalties: main procedural requirements.
      4. 33.Penalties: further procedural requirements.
      5. 34.Time-limits on the imposition of penalties.
      6. 35.Interest and payments by instalment.
      7. 36.Appeals.
      8. 37.Recovery of penalties.
      1. 38.Register.
      2. 39.Recovery of costs of the Council etc.
      3. 39A.Licences and the new arrangements
      4. 40.Directors’ remuneration.
      5. 41.Free services for the blind and partially sighted.
      1. The Commission
        1. 42.Duties in relation to public post offices.
        2. 43.Duties in relation to social and environmental matters.
        3. 44.Review and information.
        4. 45.Annual and other reports: the Commission.
        5. 46.Publication of information and advice: the Commission.
        6. 47.Power of the Commission to require information.
        7. 48.Information powers: enforcement.
        8. 49.Powers of entry and seizure.
        9. 50.Codes of practice.
        1. 51.Relevant postal issues.
        2. 52.Provision of advice and information to public authorities and licence holders.
        3. 53.Publication of information to users.
        4. 54.Exercise of functions: general.
        5. 55.Annual and other reports: the Council.
        6. 56.Complaints referred to the Council.
        7. 57.Power of the Council to investigate other matters.
        8. 58.Power of the Council to require information.
        1. 59.Provision of information by the Council to the Commission.
        2. 60.Memorandum of understanding.
        3. 61.Forward work programmes.
        1. 61A.Information relating to complaints handling standards
        1. Transfer of property etc.
          1. 62.Transfer of property etc. to nominated company.
          1. 63.Power to direct issue of certain securities etc
          2. 64.Government investment in securities of certain companies.
          1. 65.Restriction on issue of shares to third parties.
          2. 66.Restriction on disposals of shares to third parties.
          3. 67.Approved disposals.
          1. 68.Loans by the Secretary of State to relevant companies.
          2. 69.Guarantees by the Secretary of State for relevant companies.
          3. 70.Extinguishment of certain liabilities.
          4. 71.Limit on loans and other arrangements with government.
          5. 72.Reserves of relevant companies.
          6. 73.Statutory accounts of the original holding company.
          7. 74.Further provisions relating to the capital structure of certain relevant companies.
          1. 75.Dissolution of the Post Office.
          1. 76.Accounts of the Secretary of State in relation to loans.
          2. 77.Publicity requirements for certain accounts and reports .
          3. 78.Information requirements on certain relevant companies.
          4. 79.Exercise of functions through nominees.
          5. 80.Shadow directors.
          6. 81.Tax.
          7. 82.Interpretation: Part IV.
          1. Offences of interfering with the mail
            1. 83.Interfering with the mail: postal operators.
            2. 84.Interfering with the mail: general.
            1. 85.Prohibition on sending certain articles by post.
            1. 86.Prohibition on affixing advertisements on certain letter boxes etc.
            2. 87.Prohibition on misleading descriptions.
            3. 88.Obstruction of business of universal service providers.
            1. Schemes and limitation of liability
              1. 89.Schemes as to terms and conditions for provision of postal services.
              2. 89A.Powers of OFCOM in relation to schemes
              3. 90.Exclusion of liability.
              4. 91.Limited liability for postal packets.
              5. 92.Section 91: supplementary.
              6. 93.Power to modify sections 89 to 92.
              1. 94.Power to require carriage of mail-bags by ship or aircraft.
              2. 95.Power to acquire land etc.
              1. 96.Immunity from prosecution.
              2. 97.Harbour charges on mail-bags.
              3. 98.Mail-bags not to be subject to control by harbour authorities.
              1. 99.Common carriers.
              1. 100.Certain exemptions from postage etc.
              1. Supplementary powers of the Secretary of State
                1. 101.Directions in interests of national security etc.
                2. 102.Power to ensure compliance with the Postal Services Directive.
                3. 103.Subsidy for public post offices.
                1. 104.Inviolability of mails.
                2. 104A.Power to detain packets in respect of unpaid or underpaid postage
                3. 105.Application of customs and excise enactments to certain postal packets.
                4. 105A.Section 105: limit on handling charges etc
                5. 106.Power to detain postal packets containing contraband.
                6. 107.Conditions of transit of postal packets.
                1. 108.Evidence of amount of postage etc.
                2. 109.Evidence of thing being a postal packet.
                3. 110.Certificates in relation to universal postal service letter boxes.
                1. 111.Exclusion of liability in relation to postal and money orders.
                2. 112.Schemes in relation to postal and money orders.
                3. 113.Recoupment of losses on wrongly paid money orders.
                4. 114.Special arrangements with other countries or territories.
                1. 115.Extension of existing powers relating to the Post Office.
                2. 116.The Postcode Address File.
                3. 117.Records of the former Postmaster General’s department.
                4. 118.Supplementary provisions relating to the Council.
                5. 119.General restrictions on disclosure of information.
                1. 120.Offences by bodies corporate.
                2. 121.Service of documents.
                3. 122.Orders and regulations.
                4. 123.Directions.
                5. 124.General financial provision.
                6. 125.Interpretation.
                7. 126.Index of defined expressions.
                8. 127.General amendments and repeals.
                9. 128.Modifications of local enactments etc.
                10. 129.Transitional provisions etc.
                1. 130.Commencement.
                2. 131.Short title and extent.
                1. SCHEDULE 1The Postal Services Commission
                  1. .
                    1. .The Postal Services Commission
                    1. .The Postal Services Commission
                    2. .The Postal Services Commission
                    1. .The Postal Services Commission
                    1. .The Postal Services Commission
                    1. .The Postal Services Commission
                    1. .The Postal Services Commission
                    2. .The Postal Services Commission
                    3. .The Postal Services Commission
                    1. .The Postal Services Commission
                    1. .The Postal Services Commission
                    1. Membership
                      1. 1.The Consumer Council for Postal Services
                      1. 2.The Consumer Council for Postal Services
                      2. 3.The Consumer Council for Postal Services
                      3. 4.The Consumer Council for Postal Services
                      1. 5.The Consumer Council for Postal Services
                      2. 6.The Consumer Council for Postal Services
                      1. 7.The Consumer Council for Postal Services
                      1. 8.The Consumer Council for Postal Services
                      2. 9.The Consumer Council for Postal Services
                      1. 10.The Consumer Council for Postal Services
                      2. 11.The Consumer Council for Postal Services
                      3. 12.The Consumer Council for Postal Services
                      1. 13.The Consumer Council for Postal Services
                      1. 14.The Consumer Council for Postal Services
                      1. 15.The Consumer Council for Postal Services
                      2. 16.The Consumer Council for Postal Services
                      3. 17.The Consumer Council for Postal Services
                      1. General provisions as to vesting of property etc.
                        1. 1.(1) Anything (including any legal proceedings) which, immediately before the.
                        1. 2.(1) The original holding company shall, on and after the.
                        2. 3.Section 6(2) of the Commonwealth Telegraphs Act 1949 (which provides.
                        3. 4.(1) Trustees appointed by the original holding company shall hold.
                        1. 5.(1) This paragraph applies to— (a) a fund (whether described.
                        1. 6.Transfer to the original holding company: supplementary provisions
                        1. 7.Transfer to the original holding company: supplementary provisions
                        1. 8.A person dealing with the original holding company in respect.
                        1. 9.Transfer to the original holding company: supplementary provisions
                        1. 10.Transfer to the original holding company: supplementary provisions
                        1. Corporation tax: general
                          1. 1.The Post Office company shall, on and after the appointed.
                          1. 2.Any share issued by the Post Office company or any.
                          2. 3.Any security (other than a share) issued by the Post.
                          1. 4.Any debt assumed by the Post Office company under section.
                          1. 5.The existence or exercise of the powers of the Secretary.
                          1. 6.Nothing in this Part and nothing done under it shall.
                          1. 7.The Act of 1992 shall apply in relation to a.
                          1. 8.The Post Office company shall, on and after the appointed.
                          1. 9.Transfer to the Post Office company: tax
                          1. Part I Powers of acquisition etc
                            1. England and Wales
                              1. 1.(1) The Secretary of State may authorise a universal service.
                              1. 2.(1) The Secretary of State may authorise a universal service.
                              1. 3.(1) Where a universal service provider proposes to acquire, otherwise.
                              1. Application of Acquisition of Land Act 1981
                                1. 4.(1) The Acquisition of Land Act 1981 shall apply to.
                                1. 5.The Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 shall have effect with the.
                                1. 6.Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph 5, Part I.
                                2. 7.For section 7 of that Act (measure of compensation) there.
                                3. 8.Section 8(1) of the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 has effect.
                                4. 9.(1) The provisions of that Act referred to in sub-paragraph.
                                5. 10.Section 11 of that Act (powers of entry) shall be.
                                6. 11.Section 20 of that Act (protection for interests of tenants.
                                7. 12.Section 22 of that Act (protection of acquiring authority’s possession.
                                1. 13.The enactments in force in England and Wales with respect.
                                1. Acquisition of Land (Authorisation Procedure) (Scotland) Act 1947
                                  1. 14.The Acquisition of Land (Authorisation Procedure) (Scotland) Act 1947 shall.
                                  1. 15.The Acquisition of Land (Authorisation Procedure) (Scotland) Act 1947, and.
                                  1. 16.Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph 15 above, Part.
                                  2. 17.In paragraph 9 of that Schedule (compulsory purchase affecting land.
                                  3. 18.In paragraph 10 of that Schedule (land of statutory undertakers)—.
                                  4. 19.In paragraph 11 of that Schedule (common or open space).
                                  5. 20.Paragraph 3(1) of the Second Schedule to the Acquisition of.
                                  6. 21.For paragraph 4 of that Schedule (protection for owner against.
                                  1. 22.Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph 15 above, the.
                                  2. 23.For section 61 of that Act (estimation of compensation) there.
                                  3. 24.The following provisions of that Act (being provisions stating the.
                                  4. 25.Sections 114 (compensation to be made to tenants for a.
                                  5. 26.Sections 117 (protection of promoter of undertaking where by inadvertence.
                                  1. 27.The enactments in force in Scotland with respect to compensation.
                                  1. 28.For the purposes of the acquisition of land by means.
                                  2. 29.The modifications mentioned in paragraph 28 are—
                                  3. 30.The enactments for the time being in force relating to.
                                  1. Power to place post-boxes etc in streets
                                    1. 1.(1) A universal service provider may, for any purpose in.
                                    1. 2.(1) A person authorised in writing by a universal service.
                                    2. 3.(1) A person authorised to enter upon any land under.
                                    3. 4.(1) Any person who intentionally obstructs a person acting in.
                                    4. 5.(1) If in the exercise of any power conferred by.
                                    1. 6.For the purpose of the acquisition by agreement by a.
                                    2. 7.For the purpose of the acquisition by agreement by a.
                                    3. 8.For the purpose of the acquisition by agreement by a.
                                    1. 9.If a universal service provider proposes to acquire by agreement.
                                    1. 10.Any land acquired by agreement by a universal service provider.
                                    1. .
                                      1. .Disclosure of information
                                      1. .Disclosure of information
                                      1. .Disclosure of information
                                      2. .Disclosure of information
                                      1. .Disclosure of information
                                      1. .Disclosure of information
                                      1. Part I General amendments
                                        1. 1.(1) Any enactment which requires or authorises a document or.
                                        2. 2.(1) Any enactment which requires or authorises a document or.
                                        3. 3.(1) Any enactment which requires or authorises a document or.
                                        4. 4.(1) Any enactment which requires or authorises a document or.
                                        5. 5.(1) Any reference (however worded and including references which are.
                                        6. 6.(1) The Secretary of State may by order provide for.
                                        7. 7.(1) In this Part of this Schedule, “future enactment” means.
                                        1. Public Records Act 1958 (c.51)
                                          1. 8.In Schedule 1 to the Public Records Act 1958 (definition.
                                          1. 9.In Schedule 2 to the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 (departments.
                                          2. 10.In Schedule 2 to the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 the.
                                          1. 11.Amendments of enactments
                                          1. 12.In paragraph 3 of Schedule 3 to the Pensions (Increase).
                                          1. 13.In Schedule 1 to the Superannuation Act 1972 (kinds of.
                                          1. 14.(1) Schedule 1 to the House of Commons Disqualification Act.
                                          2. 15.In Part II of Schedule 1 to the Act of.
                                          1. 16.Amendments of enactments
                                          1. 17.(1) Section 91 of the Representation of the People Act.
                                          2. 18.After section 200 of that Act there shall be inserted—.
                                          1. 19.(1) Section 134 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (correspondence.
                                          1. 20.In section 371(1) of the Insolvency Act 1986 (re-direction of.
                                          1. 21.In section 43(6D)(a) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.
                                          1. 22.(1) The Value Added Tax Act 1994 shall be amended.
                                          1. 23.In regulation 2 of the Value Added Tax Regulations 1995.
                                          1. 24.In section 11 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995.
                                          1. 25.In Schedule 2 to the Local Government and Rating Act.
                                          1. 26.For paragraph 7 of Schedule 3 to the Northern Ireland.
                                          1. 27.In Regulation 2(1) of the Postal Services Regulations 1999 (designation.
                                          1. Note: The repeal of section 52 of the Post Office.

                                          Options/Help

                                          Print Options

                                          Print Table of Contents

                                          • PDF table of contents
                                          • Web page table of contents

                                          Print The Whole Act

                                          • PDF The Whole Act
                                          • Web page The Whole Act

                                          You have chosen to open The Whole Act

                                          The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

                                          Would you like to continue?

                                          You have chosen to open The Whole Act as a PDF

                                          The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

                                          Would you like to continue?

                                          You have chosen to open the Whole Act

                                          The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

                                          Would you like to continue?

                                          Legislation is available in different versions:

                                          Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

                                          Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

                                          Opening Options

                                          Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

                                          Explanatory Notes

                                          Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.

                                          More Resources

                                          Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

                                          • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
                                          • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
                                          • confers power and blanket amendment details
                                          • all formats of all associated documents
                                          • correction slips
                                          • links to related legislation and further information resources

                                          Timeline of Changes

                                          This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

                                          More Resources

                                          Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

                                          • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
                                          • correction slips

                                          Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

                                          • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
                                          • confers power and blanket amendment details
                                          • all formats of all associated documents
                                          • links to related legislation and further information resources

                                          All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. This site additionally contains content derived from EUR-Lex, reused under the terms of the Commission Decision 2011/833/EU on the reuse of documents from the EU institutions. For more information see the EUR-Lex public statement on re-use.

                                          © Crown and database right