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Postal Services Bill [HL]

Amendments 31 and 32 are probing amendments to ensure that the definition of "post office" is properly matched to the situation on the ground. My first amendment, probing the entire definition, is tabled to raise concerns that the definition could be stretched to cover a great number of premises which are not what one would automatically think of as a post office. Many different places provide government services directly to the public. Although we certainly support the idea that government departments should try to pass business through the post office network, they certainly do not use it exclusively—nor, I imagine, will they in future. Surely that definition goes too widely. I was also interested in the specification that services are provided directly to the public. Much of the Post Office’s work is, as we have already discussed, carried out for the Royal Mail rather than for the public directly. As the Bill raises the possibility of post offices expanding their remit into private postal providers, it is not inconceivable that they might develop more services that are not directly for the public. Does this definition not unduly restrict what post offices can and cannot do in future? The post office network primarily ensures public access to services but, as much as that should—and I am sure will—remain post offices’ primary function, it need not be all their work. I beg to move.