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Postal Services Bill [HL]

Amendment 63 63: After Clause 41, insert the following new Clause— "Investment fund for post office network (1) This Act shall not come into effect until the Secretary of State has by order made provision to establish an investment fund for the Post Office network in order to achieve a post and sub-post office network that may enter business agreements with other businesses in the postal service and other sectors, and deliver a range of services, including— (a) the opening of new Post Office branches where there is a defined need; (b) start-up and investment capital and training in business opportunities to new and existing sub-postmasters; (c) the provision of local and central government information and services by post offices and sub-post offices; and (d) the creation of a Postbank to deliver financial services for customers through the Post Office Network. (2) An order under subsection (1) must provide for the Crown to have a statutory obligation to maintain the Post Office network on the basis of a framework with agreed outlets and service requirements set every five years and beginning in April 2011. (3) An order under this section is subject to the affirmative resolution procedure."