Social
and Environmental Guidelines
Section 43 of the Postal Services Act 2000 created provision for the
Secretary of State, from time to time, to give Postcomm (the Regulator) guidance
about the making of a contribution by them towards the attainment of any social
and environmental policies as set out in the guidance.
On the 22nd March 2001 the Secretary of State issued such guidance to Postcomm under section 43(2) of the Act. The guidance had previously been laid in draft before each House of Parliament (on the 8th February 2001), in accordance with section 43(4) of the Act. Postcomm is required by the Act to have regard to this guidance when discharging its functions as regulator, though certain obligations of a social nature flow directly from the Act.
The guidance drew together the relevant aspects of the Government's social and environmental policies so that Postcomm can carry out its functions in a way that is alert to the wider policy picture and, where possible, supportive of it. The Government intends the guidance to remain in place for some time, partly to reduce the regulatory uncertainty that frequent changes could produce, but also because of the fact that the broad nature of the guidance reduces the need for change.
Related documents
® Social and Environmental Guidelines -
English version
[61
Kb]
® Social and Environmental Guidelines -
Welsh version 
[164 Kb]