The Postal Privilege (Suspension) Order 1999

Statutory Instruments

1999 No. 1933

POST OFFICE

The Postal Privilege (Suspension) Order 1999

Made

6th July 1999

Laid before Parliament

8th July 1999

Coming into force

1st April 2000

The Secretary of State, in exercise of the power conferred on him by section 69 of the British Telecommunications Act 1981(1) and after consultation with the Post Office, hereby makes the following Order:–

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Postal Privilege (Suspension) Order 1999 and shall come into force on 1st April 2000.

(2) The Postal Privilege (Suspension) Order 1981(2) is hereby revoked.

2.—(1) In paragraph (2) below, the “postal privilege” means the privilege conferred on the Post office by section 66(1) of the British Telecommunications Act 1981, namely, the exclusive privilege of conveying letters from one place to another and of performing all the incidental services of receiving, collecting and delivering letters. Any reference to the conveyance of a letter in this instrument includes the performance of such incidental services as are mentioned in this paragraph.

(2) The postal privilege is hereby suspended until the end of the year 2006 in relation to the conveyance of a letter which either

(a) is conveyed in consideration of a payment of more than 50 pence made by or on behalf of the person for whom it is conveyed; or

(b) weighs more than 150 grams.

Ian McCartney

Minister of State,

Department of Trade and Industry

6th July 1999

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order, which revokes the Postal Privilege (Suspension) Order 1981, suspends until the end of the year 2006 the exclusive privilege of the Post Office with respect to the conveyance of letters so as to permit other persons to convey them if a minimum charge of more than 50 pence is made for each letter conveyed or if each letter conveyed weighs a minimum of more than 150 grams.

(1)

1981 c. 38.

(2)

S.I. 1981/1483.