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Postal Services Bill [HL]

Amendments 69 and 70 69: Schedule 9, page 77, line 42, at end insert— "Power to extend operation of time-limited licence condition (1) If it appears to the Secretary of State— (a) that a licence condition applicable before the appointed day to the universal service provider depends for its continuing operation on forecast figures indicating the volume of business in future periods ("index years") set out in the condition, and (b) that the index years and forecast figures set out in the condition do not extend beyond the index year ending 31st March 2010, the Secretary of State may by order amend that condition so as to specify a forecast figure for the index year ending 31st March 2011. (2) The power of the Secretary of State is limited to inserting a forecast figure produced by applying the same methods as were used by the Postal Services Commission to determine the forecast figure for the index years presently set out in the condition. (3) If it appears to the Secretary of State that the Postal Services Commission has produced, using those methods, a forecast figure for the index year ending 31st March 2011, the Secretary of State may adopt the Commission’s figure and need not repeat, or examine the basis of, the work done by the Commission in producing that figure. (4) Before making an order under this paragraph the Secretary of State must— (a) consult the universal service provider and such other persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate, and (b) consider any representations made before the end of the consultation period. The consultation period, in relation to a person, is the period of 21 days beginning with the day on which that person is consulted. (5) The requirements of sub-paragraph (4) may be met by consultation and consideration before the passing of this Act. (6) If an order under this paragraph is made before the appointed day, the reference in paragraph 4(2) to the licence conditions applicable immediately before that day is to be read accordingly as a reference to the conditions as amended by the order." 70: Schedule 9, page 78, line 27, at end insert— "References to universal service provider References in this Schedule to the universal service provider, in relation to periods before the appointed day, are to the operator whose identity is for the time being notified to the European Commission as being the provider of a universal postal service in the United Kingdom." Amendments 69 and 70 agreed. Schedule 10 : Minor and consequential amendments and repeals Amendments 71 to 90 not moved. Clause 61 : Short title, commencement and extent Amendments 91 and 92 not moved.