§ 2. Mr. Nealeasked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress has been made with the liberalisation of the postal monopoly.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerOn 7 November this year the postal monopoly was suspended in respect of time-sensitive mail subject only to a minimum charge of £1 per item. On 25 November a general licence was issued permitting charities to deliver Christmas cards between 25 November and 1 January the following year, and provides for similar relaxations each year until 1 January 2007. A further general licence is being prepared, which will allow the transfer of mail between document exchanges. I hope to publish this licence early in the New Year.
293WIn addition, sections 66 and 67 of the British Telecommunications Act contain valuable clarification of what is a letter to remove doubts which had previously inhibited competition.