§ Mr. Neil Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will instruct the United Kingdom delegation to the Universal Postal Union in Hamburg to oppose resolution 522 and ensure that all similar moves to restrict courier services are opposed by the United Kingdom delegation.
§ Mr. TrippierThe United Kingdom delegation has been briefed to accept the conclusions reached by the 19W Consultative Council for Postal Studies study 522 on postal monopoly, that the Universal Postal Union cannot effectively legislate to protect the extent or degree of enforcement of postal monopolies which is recognised to be a matter for national legislation.
§ Mr. Neil Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will call for a relaxation of postal monopolies at the Universal Postal Union in Hamburg in line with the policy adopted in the United Kingdom in 1981 to allow for free trade in courier services.
§ Mr. TrippierIt is for individual Administrations to decide the extent of national postal monopolies. The relaxations introduced in the United Kingdom under the British Telecommunications Act 1981 have been a success, and provide a clear example to other Administrations of the benefits of such a step.