subject: Postal Services Watchdog Sees Protection Of Universal Service As A Priority [print this page] Retaining a universal postal service and protecting the interests of its customers is the key aim laid down by postal services regulator Postcomm for its work over the next two years.
Over that period, Postcomm is aiming to complete a schedule of work which has been described by many in the mail and parcels business as challenging and ambitious the key element of which is expected to be changed to the way the regulatory process is governed and run, and it hopes that these will be in place by April 2011.
That will be followed by the introduction of a completely new regulatory framework, which is planned to be in place by April 2012.
Aside from protecting the universal service, in principle and in practice, Postcomm says it is also keen to provide an environment in which letter and parcel delivery companies are free to innovate, and in which they can become more efficient while continuing to meet the needs of customers.
It also says that customers interests will remain at the top of its agenda throughout its work. At the same time, Postcomm adds that it wants to listen to both the public, and the companies and people working in the mail and parcel delivery service.
To do this, it is to publish details of its working timetable and processes in the run-up to consultations on, and then the introduction of, its new regulatory system.
The regulator adds that it is keen to review the way in which Royal Mail provides information about its costs and revenue, so that this balances the need for Royal Mail to be open about its finances, and potential competitors wishes to be able to accurately measure the viability of any new letter or parcel delivery service.
Postcomm also says it is keen to keep an eye on Royal Mails power in the market, and identify instances where this is seen to be operating against customers interests.
One of the first bodies to express its opinion on Postcomms proposals was Consumer Focus, the body which speaks up for consumers on general issues, and matters specific to particular industries and business sectors.
It broadly welcomed Postcomms plans, but said that its work was largely biased towards customers based in urban and suburban areas, and suggested that it should improve its presence in rural areas, work more closely with devolved administrations, and focus individual projects on gathering information about the needs of Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish postal service customers.
