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; and for connected purposes.
The Bill provides for the restructuring of Royal Mail Group Ltd, changes in the Royal Mail Pension Plan, and a change in the regulation of postal services.Key areasMakes provision to ensure Royal Mail Group Ltd and Post Office Limited remain in public ownership, while allowing for a sale of a minority stake in Royal MailIntroduces changes to the Royal Mail Pension Plan, including the transfer of Royal Mail’s historic pension deficit to the Government Establishes a new regulatory regime for the postal services sector, including transferring regulatory responsibility from Postcomm to the Office of Communications (OFCOM), with the primary duty of OFCOM in relation to postal services being to maintain the universal service.
House of Lords
13 November 2009
The Postal Services Bill reshapes the Royal Mail group and its pension arrangements and creates a new regulatory framework for postal services. It keeps Royal Mail Group Ltd and Post Office Limited largely in public ownership while allowing a minority stake sale in Royal Mail, transfers the historic pension deficit to the Government, and moves postal regulation from Postcomm to Ofcom with a duty to maintain universal service.
The bill is currently at the 2nd reading in the House of Commons. It originated in the Lords; after this stage it will move to committee and report stages.
Generated 21 February 2026
N.B. This Bill will not progress any further as the 2008-09 Session of Parliament has ended.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
