§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the duties of the Postal Services Commission in respect of the United Kingdom; who its members are; by whom they were appointed; when next they will report; and to whom. [144828]
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonThe duties of the Postal Services Commission are set out in the Postal Services Act 2000. These include the responsibility to: exercise its functions in the manner which it considers is best calculated to ensure the provision of a universal postal service at a uniform tariff; further the interests of users of postal services, wherever appropriate by promoting effective competition between postal operators; promote efficiency and economy on the part of postal operators; and have regard to the need to ensure that licence holders are able to finance activities authorised or required by their licences.
238WThe Postal Services Commission was initially established as an advisory body. Its membership was announced in the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for South Ribble (Mr. Borrow) on 6 June 2000, Official Report, columns 186–87W. On 6 November 2000 the independent Postal Services Commission was established as announced in the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for South Ribble, 6 November 2000, Official Report, column 18W. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry made these appointments. In accordance with section 45 of the Postal Services Act 2000, the Commission is required to make annual reports to the Secretary of State on its activities after the end of each financial year (which runs to 31 March each year). The Secretary of State is required to lay a copy of each annual report before Parliament and to publish each report.