§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what additional support will be provided to Royal Mail if Postcomm"s proposals to change its universal service obligations are permitted. [143025]
§ Mr. TimmsUniversal service obligations are a matter for the Regulator, Postcomm. Postcomm are currently seeking views, via a consultation process that runs through to mid-February, on their proposals which aim to clarify precisely which services make up the universal service in the UK and how they should be provided by Royal Mail. It is Postcomm"s primary responsibility to exercise its functions in a manner which it considers is best calculated to ensure the provision of a universal service, as set out in the Postal Services Act 2000.