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63141

registered interest
date	23/06/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Postal Services: Competition
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have conducted research to review whether end-to-end competition in the postal sector is more likely to affect the universal service than in other European countries due to (1) the United Kingdom's economic geography, and (2) the United Kingdom mandatory access requirements.
tabling member printed	Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
uin	HL550
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Under the Postal Services Act 2011, Parliament gave Ofcom, as an independent regulator for postal services, the primary statutory duty to secure the provision of the universal service.</p><p> </p><p>Parliament has given Ofcom the regulatory powers and tools it needs to intervene in the market if the provision of the universal service is ever at risk.</p><p> </p><p>Given its statutory duties, it is for Ofcom to monitor and assess any impact of postal competition on the provision of the universal service. To this end Ofcom has put in place a comprehensive monitoring regime to keep the situation under review.</p><p> </p><p>More information about Ofcom's regulatory regime can be found on its website (www.ofcom.org.uk).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 02/07/2014 15:57:30 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4282 label Biography information for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

63142

registered interest
date	23/06/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Postal Services: Competition
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of postal services was delivered through access contracts in each year since access competition was introduced in 2004.
tabling member printed	Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
uin	HL551
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Since 2004, the percentage of postal services delivered through access contracts (i.e. addressed volumes – excluding unaddressed and including international) is: <strong>2004-5: 0%; 2005-06: 5%; 2006-07: 12%; 2007-08 (unadjusted 53 week): 19%; 2008-09: 26%; 2009-10: 35%; 2010-11: 41%; 2011-12: 44%; 2012-13 (unadjusted 53 week): 48%. </strong><em>(Sources: 2005-2009 Postcomm Regulatory Accounts; 2010-2013: Ofcom's Annual Monitoring Report 2012-13). </em></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 02/07/2014 16:16:20 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4282 label Biography information for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

63795

registered interest
date	24/06/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Domestic Service: Conditions of Employment
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to end the abuse and exploitation of domestic workers in the United Kingdom, especially those from overseas; what means they will use to ensure that such workers have contracts of employment and are regularly paid at least the minimum wage; and whether such protection can extend to the employees of foreign diplomats.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL579
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The UK already provides comprehensive employment and social protections to domestic workers and as a rule, domestic workers in the UK are entitled to the same employment rights as workers generally – including the National Minimum Wage (unless they are treated as if they are a member of the family), statutory sick pay, paid annual leave, protections from discrimination and unfair dismissals as well as other protections.</p><p> </p><p>We are fully committed to ensuring that domestic workers are able to access their rights. Anyone who believes they are being mistreated by their employer in any way has access to a number of organisations who can help including the police, the Pay and Work Rights Helpline and Employment Tribunals.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is also focused on ensuring that overseas domestic workers are informed about their rights and immigration and borders staff are trained to recognise potential victims of abuse. Overseas domestic workers must have been employed for 12 months before a visa will be granted and must have a signed statement of terms and conditions of employment in line with the National Minimum Wage legislation. Every overseas domestic worker is also provided with a letter informing them of their rights in the UK and where to get help if needed. This letter is provided in a range of languages as well as English.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, all foreign diplomats in the UK are required to respect our laws, including employment regulations. The FCO treats any allegation of mistreatment of staff in diplomatic households very seriously. Any allegations that the law has been broken are investigated by the police and the FCO will take appropriate steps to assist the investigation which may include requesting the withdrawal of diplomatic immunity.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 02/07/2014 15:52:56 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

62513

registered interest
date	18/06/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Postal Services
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect the universal postal service in the light of declining use of the service.
tabling member printed	Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
uin	HL442
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The universal postal service is protected in primary legislation – the Postal Services Act 2011. Under the Act, Parliament has established the minimum requirements of the universal service – which include letter deliveries 6 days a week at a uniform and affordable rate throughout the UK. Only Parliament can change the minimum requirements.</p><p> </p><p>Government has ensured that ongoing protection of the universal service is at the heart of the regulatory regime by giving Ofcom the primary statutory duty to secure the provision of the universal service and to this end Ofcom must have regard for the financial sustainability of the universal service.</p><p> </p><p>Ofcom has put in place a comprehensive monitoring regime that tracks the financial sustainability of the universal service and Parliament has ensured that the regulator has the powers and tools it needs to intervene in the market if the provision of the universal service is ever at risk.</p><p> </p><p>The steps we have taken to reform the regulatory framework coupled with securing access to the much needed private capital for Royal Mail, as the designated Universal Service Provider, are the best way to safeguard the future of a sustainable universal postal service in the UK.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 02/07/2014 14:54:32 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4282 label Biography information for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

62514

registered interest
date	18/06/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Postal Services
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are considering a review of the direct delivery market in the light of postal service providers other than Royal Mail being able to serve selected areas only.
tabling member printed	Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
uin	HL443
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Under the Postal Services Act 2011, Parliament gave Ofcom, as an independent regulator for postal services, the primary statutory duty to secure the provision of the universal service.</p><p> </p><p>Last year, following a consultation, Ofcom, as the independent regulator for postal services, set out its guidance on its approach to intervening in response to a material threat to the provision of the universal service.</p><p> </p><p>Ofcom has made clear that if its ongoing monitoring regime, which keeps the situation under continual review and allows for any new evidence, does not prompt the need for any earlier assessment, it will as a matter of course carry out a full assessment of the impact of competition on the universal service towards the end of 2015.</p><p> </p><p>More information about Ofcom's regulatory regime can be found on its website (www.ofcom.org.uk).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 02/07/2014 14:56:36 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4282 label Biography information for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

62515

registered interest
date	18/06/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Postal Services
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are considering any regulatory changes to protect the universal postal service in the light of postal service providers other than Royal Mail being able to serve selected areas only.
tabling member printed	Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
uin	HL444
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Under the Postal Services Act 2011, Parliament gave Ofcom, as an independent regulator for postal services, the primary statutory duty to secure the provision of the universal service.</p><p> </p><p>Parliament has given Ofcom the regulatory powers and tools it needs to intervene in the market if the universal service is ever at risk. It is for Ofcom to determine how it uses its powers and tools in support of its statutory duties.</p><p> </p><p>Ofcom also has a duty to promote competition where that benefits consumers, though should the two duties be in conflict it is the universal service that takes precedence in the interests of postal users.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>More information about Ofcom's regulatory regime can be found on its website (www.ofcom.org.uk).</p><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 02/07/2014 14:55:44 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4282 label Biography information for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth