Postal services

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on postal services. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

Date	Description
12.10.2012	Post Office numbers
	Over the past 30 years the number of post offices in the UK has almost halved, although numbers have remained more stable over the last few years. This note provides a breakdown of the network size by year and by quarter. Also included is a breakdown of post offices by type and by region.
20.07.2012	Postal Services: the Postal Services Act 2011 and recent developments
	This note summarises the Labour Government's policies on postal services before outlining the Postal Services Act 2011 and subsequent developments.
14.05.2012	VAT on postal packages
	Imports into the EU worth 10 euros or less are VAT-exempt, though Member States may apply a higher threshold up to 22 euros - worth £18 - and the UK has done this. The Channel Islands lie outside the EU for VAT purposes, and there have been concerns that some UK retailers are exploiting low value consignment relief, as it is known, by selling goods over the internet VAT-free from subsidiaries based in Jersey and Guernsey. This note gives a short introduction to this issue.
12.04.2012	Stamp prices
	In March 2012, Royal Mail announced that stamp prices would rise from 30 April 2012 for both first and second class mail. The price of a standard first class stamp will rise from 46p to 60p. The price of a standard second class stamp will rise from 36p to 50p.
21.03.2012	Royal Mail Pension Plan
	This note looks at the development of the Royal Mail Pension Plan and at debates about how the funding deficit should be dealt with.

Research Papers

Date	Description
07.01.2011	Postal Services Bill: Committee Stage Report Bill 120 of 2010-11 (as amended; Bill 78 as introduced)
	The Postal Services Bill passed Second Reading in the Commons on 27 October. The Bill was considered in Public Bill Committee in 20 sittings, between 9 November and 9 December 2010. No Opposition amendments were agreed and only minor Government amendments were made to Clause 80 in Part 4 of the Bill.
25.10.2010	Postal Services Bill [Bill 78 of 2010-11]
	This Paper has been prepared for the Second Reading debate in the House of Commons of the Postal Services Bill. The Bill has four main parts. Part 1 provides for changes to the ownership structure of Royal Mail Holdings plc and its subsidiaries (including Post Office Ltd). Part 2 provides for Royal Mail's historic pension deficit to be transferred to government. Part 3 provides for changes in the regulatory arrangements for postal services and Part 4 provides for a 'special administration regime' should there be a risk to the universal postal service from the possibility of the provider becoming insolvent.
11.02.2000	Postal Services Bill (Bill 54 of 1999/2000)
	Postal Services Bill (Bill 54 of 1999/2000). House of Commons Library Research Paper 00/18.

Select Committee Reports

Date	Description
15.03.2011	Postal services in Scotland.
	Government response. Scottish Affairs Select Committee; Scotland Office report [Commons]
21.12.2010	Postal services in Scotland.
	Scottish Affairs Select Committee report [Commons]
13.10.2009	Post offices: securing their future.
	Government response. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills; Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee; Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee report [Commons]
15.07.2009	Oversight of the Post Office Network Change Programme.
	Public Accounts Committee report [Commons]
23.06.2009	Post offices: securing their future.
	Business and Enterprise Select Committee report [Commons]

Early Day Motions

Date	Description
20.12.2011	DELIVERY CHARGES FOR CONSUMERS IN RURAL AREAS
	That this House welcomes the campaign by Citizens Advice Scotland and Citizens Advice Bureaux across Scotland to tackle unfair delivery practices for consumers in remote and rural areas; ...
14.06.2011	POST OFFICES IN NORTHERN IRELAND
	That this House notes the importance of the vital community service provided by post offices in Northern Ireland; and further notes that they hold communities together, allowing customers ...
24.03.2011	GREEN GIRO CONTRACT AND THE FUTURE OF THE POST OFFICE
	That this House notes with regret the decision by the Department for Work and Pensions not to award the green giro contract to the Post Office; furthernotes that there are communities ...
07.02.2011	ROYAL MAIL (No. 2)
	That this House recognises that the minimum requirements that make up the current universal postal service obligation on Royal Mail are an essential service for communities throughout ...
20.12.2010	PROFILE OF THE REIGNING MONARCH ON POSTAGE STAMPS
	That this House calls on the Government to introduce legislation to make it a legal requirement that the profile of the reigning monarch must feature on all UK postage stamps regardless ...