Postal services in the United Kingdom
Encyclopedia
Postal services in the United Kingdom are provided predominantly by the Royal Mail
(which delivers letters) and Post Office Ltd (which oversees post offices). Since 2008, the market has been fully opened to competition which has thrived in business to business delivery, but not in ordinary letter delivery.
The industry is regulated by Ofcom
and consumer interests are represented by Consumer Focus
. Since 1 October 2011, the main piece of legislation is the Postal Services Act 2011, although some parts of the Postal Services Act 2000
are still in force. The 2011 Act enables the government to privatise Royal Mail and to possibly mutualise Post Office Ltd.
Anthony Trollope
is credited with major contributions to the development of postal services in the years 1851-1867, described, e.g. in Chapters 8 and 13 of his autobiography.
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
(which delivers letters) and Post Office Ltd (which oversees post offices). Since 2008, the market has been fully opened to competition which has thrived in business to business delivery, but not in ordinary letter delivery.
The industry is regulated by Ofcom
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
and consumer interests are represented by Consumer Focus
Consumer Focus
Consumer Focus is a statutory consumer organisation in England, Wales, Scotland, and, for postal services, Northern Ireland, formed in 2008 by the merging Postwatch, Energywatch and the Welsh, Scottish and National Consumer Councils...
. Since 1 October 2011, the main piece of legislation is the Postal Services Act 2011, although some parts of the Postal Services Act 2000
Postal Services Act 2000
The Postal Services Act 2000 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, relating to the postal industry. It established an industry regulator, Postcomm , a consumer watchdog, Postwatch , required a "universal service" of post to be provided and set up rules for licensing postal services...
are still in force. The 2011 Act enables the government to privatise Royal Mail and to possibly mutualise Post Office Ltd.
History
The quality of postal services in the 17th and 18th centuries improved with development of better roads and means of transportation.Anthony Trollope
Anthony Trollope
Anthony Trollope was one of the most successful, prolific and respected English novelists of the Victorian era. Some of his best-loved works, collectively known as the Chronicles of Barsetshire, revolve around the imaginary county of Barsetshire...
is credited with major contributions to the development of postal services in the years 1851-1867, described, e.g. in Chapters 8 and 13 of his autobiography.
- Postmaster General, position created in 1510
- Royal MailRoyal MailRoyal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
, established 1516 by King Henry VIII - General Post OfficeGeneral Post OfficeGeneral Post Office is the name of the British postal system from 1660 until 1969.General Post Office may also refer to:* General Post Office, Perth* General Post Office, Sydney* General Post Office, Melbourne* General Post Office, Brisbane...
, established 1660 by King Charles II - Rowland HillRowland Hill (postal reformer)Sir Rowland Hill KCB, FRS was an English teacher, inventor and social reformer. He campaigned for a comprehensive reform of the postal system, based on the concept of penny postage and his solution of prepayment, facilitating the safe, speedy and cheap transfer of letters...
, creator of the penny post, 1844
- Post Office Ltd, separated from Royal Mail as a new business in 1986
- ParcelforceParcelforceParcelforce Worldwide is a courier and logistics service in the United Kingdom. Parcelforce Worldwide is a trading name of Royal Mail Group Ltd.Its international partner network allows it to extend its delivery reach worldwide...
, separated as a new division within Royal Mail in 1986
- Green Paper on Postal ReformGreen Paper on Postal ReformThe Green Paper on Postal Reform was a United Kingdom government draft plan to privatise and regulate the UK postal services...
(1994) published setting out the options for privatisation and regulation of the Post Office and Royal Mail - British Forces Post OfficeBritish Forces Post OfficeThe British Forces Post Office provides a postal service to HM Forces, separate from that provided by Royal Mail in the United Kingdom. BFPO addresses are used for the delivery of mail in the UK and around the world...
, the British Army's postal & courier service, a history of its development
Law
- Postal Services Act 2000Postal Services Act 2000The Postal Services Act 2000 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, relating to the postal industry. It established an industry regulator, Postcomm , a consumer watchdog, Postwatch , required a "universal service" of post to be provided and set up rules for licensing postal services...
- Postal Services Act 2011
- First Postal Services Directive, 97/67/EC
- Second Postal Services Directive, 2002/39/EC
- Third Postal Services Directive, 2008/06/EC
See also
- Public service law in the United KingdomPublic service law in the United KingdomPublic service law in the United Kingdom concerns the ownership, regulation and potentially competition in the provision of public services in the United Kingdom.-Nationalisation and competition:*Monopoly, cartel*Market failure*Public economics...
- Telecommunications in the United KingdomTelecommunications in the United KingdomUntil 1982, the main civil telecommunications system in the UK was a state monopoly known as Post Office Telecommunications. Broadcasting of radio and television was a duopoly of the BBC and Independent Broadcasting Authority : these two organisations controlled all broadcast services, and...
- Broadcasting in the United Kingdom
- Energy policy of the United KingdomEnergy policy of the United KingdomThe current energy policy of the United Kingdom is set out in the Energy White Paper of May 2007 and Low Carbon Transition Plan of July 2009, building on previous work including the 2003 Energy White Paper and the Energy Review Report in 2006...