Postcomm and POUNC to work together
9 December 2000
Postcomm, the postal services regulator and the Post Office Users National Council, which represents consumer interests, today jointly published proposals for a Memorandum of Understanding on how they will work together.
The aims of the memorandum are to:
- Ensure effective cooperation between the two organisations;
- provide for the exchange of information;
- ensure consistency; and
- minimise duplication of activity.
In addition, the memorandum will help third party organisations understand how Postcomm and the consumer body interact.
Graham Corbett, Chairman of Postcomm and Peter Carr, Chairman of POUNC said: “This is an important step towards joined-up regulation. The Memorandum of Understanding will clarify the duties of the two independent organisations and prevent the wasted effort of overlapping responsibilities. Setting out the ways POUNC and the regulator work together will ensure that both organisations, which have separate responsibilities, are able to give customers of postal services the best possible deal.”
Copies of the document, Memorandum of Understanding. A joint Postcomm/POUNC consultation document, are available from Postcomm at 6 Hercules Road, London SE1 7DB, or from POUNC at the same address. Responses are requested by 5 February 2001.
Notes to editors.
Postcomm formally became an independent regulator on Monday, 6 November with the commencement of the Postal Services Act 2000. The commission’s responsibilities include granting a licence to the Post Office, setting price controls for monopoly postal services, setting standards of service and encouraging the introduction of competition.
POUNC, which is set to become the Consumer Council for Postal Services (CCPS) on 1 January 2001, will act as the consumers’ champion by informing them of change and helping customers resolve disputes with postal operators. Postcomm has already asked POUNC to help it monitor the performance of the Post Office and to advise on matters to be included in the licence.
