§ Sir Sydney ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the role, powers and funding of Postwatch. [156275]
§ Mr. Alan Johnson[holding answer 30 March 2001]The Consumer Council for Postal Services (or "Postwatch" as it calls itself) has been established to promote the interests of users of postal services within the framework now created by the Postal Services Act 2000. It is intended that the Council should have a central role in the new regulatory framework, monitoring service standards and acting as a focus for consumer issues and complaints.
The Act requires that the Council is consulted on key decisions including variations in the services for which licences are required, the granting and modification of licences, and the enforcement of licence conditions. The Act also requires the Council to represent (particularly to the Government, the Postal Services Commission, and licensed postal operators) the views of users, and to provide advice and information to consumers on postal matters. It is expected that the Council will seek to ensure licensed operators have effective complaints handling procedures and compensation and redress systems, and will investigate complaints which have not been satisfactorily handled by licensed postal operators. It will also monitor service quality against standards set by the Postal Services Commission and, with the Postal Services Commission ("Postcomm"), monitor and advise on the Post Office Counters network.
In accordance with a direction given under section 39 of the Act, the costs of the Council are to be recovered from licensees.