Postcomm restores restrictions to postal services

11 December 2003

Postcomm today reinstated restrictions on the licences of five competitors to Royal Mail. The move follows the resumption of normal services by Royal Mail after industrial action which began in October.

Under normal circumstances, companies competing with Royal Mail can only provide relatively large bulk mail services for business customers. But as a result of industrial action by Royal Mail staff in London and elsewhere, on 31 October Postcomm published a determination removing these restrictions for a period to enable rival companies to provide a wider range of services.

A determination by Postcomm today gives the companies 92 days to revert to their original licence conditions.

Notes for editors.

The companies concerned are long-term licence holders Hays Commercial Services Ltd, TPG Post (UK) Ltd, UK Mail Ltd and Express Ltd and interim licensee TNT UK Ltd.

More information on licensed operators.

 A copy of the determination can be found on each individual licensed operators consultation page.