Postal services act

Status of the bill: Enacted

Main purpose of the bill:

To make provision for the restructuring of the Royal Mail group and about the Royal Mail Pension Plan; to make new provision about the regulation of postal services, including provision for a special administration regime; and for connected purposes.

Main points of the bill:

Allows for an unrestricted sale of shares in Royal Mail and provides for an employee share scheme.

Provides for Post Office Ltd to remain in full public ownership, except for a possible future move to a mutual ownership structure.

Provides for the transfer of Royal Mail's historic pension deficit to Government.

Provides for changes to the regulatory framework including transferring regulatory responsibility from Postcomm to Ofcom.

Provides for a special administration regime to protect the continuation of the universal postal service.

Progress of the bill

The Postal Services Bill was included in the Queen's Speech on 25th May 2010.

Commons:
First Reading: 13.10.10 Second Reading: 27.10.10 Committee Stage: 09.11.10 11.11.10 16.11.10 18.11.10 23.11.10 25.11.10 30.11.10 02.12.10 07.12.10 09.12.10 Report Stage: 12.01.11 Third Reading: 12.01.11

Lords:
First Reading: 13.01.11 Second Reading: 16.02.11 Committee Stage: 08.03.11 14.03.11 16.03.11
06.04.11 Report Stage: 04.05.11 17.05.11 Third Reading: 24.05.11

Ping Pong: 09.06.11 Royal Assent: 13.06.11