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Postal Services Bill [HL]

Does this mean that a privately owned Post Office would have to seek the permission of the Government or one of their agents—Post Office Counters under its new name—before it enters into any agreement with a body other than the Government? For example, if it wanted to enter an agreement with a financial services company, would it have to get the permission of the Government? If so, it would somewhat restrict the ability of the individual small post office, as distinct from the national one, to find new partners when in its retailing financial services role, which already has expanded considerably.