§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which directives of the European Commission have come into effect since July 2000 reducing reserved areas, or price monopoly, of the Royal Mail and Post Office services; what consent was given by ministers at the relevant ministerial councils; and what reports were made to Parliament relating to them. [74116]
§ Mr. TimmsThe European Postal Directive 2002/39/ EC came into effect on 5 July 2002. The effect of the Directive is to reduce the upper weight/price limit, of that part of the postal market that member states may reserve to national universal service providers where necessary to maintain the universal service, from the current limit of 350 grams/5 times the basic weight first class tariff to 100g/ 3 times the basic weight first class tariff from 1 January 2003 and to 50g/ 2.5 times the basic weight first class tariff from 1 January 2006. The Directive was scrutinised and cleared by the European Committees of both Houses. The UK supported the adoption of this Directive in the Council.