Commentary on Sections Supplementary provisions Section 11: Annual report on post office network
67.Subsection (1) requires a Post Office company to submit a report to the Secretary of State on its post office network each year. Under the interpretation provisions in section 15(3), a Post Office company’s network of post offices comprises the post offices it is engaged in providing, not just the ones it directly owns. This ensures that, for example, details of sub post offices (which are owned and managed by subpostmasters under contractual arrangement with Post Office Limited) are included in a report.
68.Subsection (2) sets out the details of what that report must contain. Paragraph (a) requires information about the number and location of post offices in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Paragraph (b) specifies that the report must include details of the services offered at those post offices, including in particular the postal services, services provided under arrangements with a government department and other services (which would, for example, include financial services). Under paragraph (c), a Post Office company must also report on the accessibility of the post offices to those who use the services.
69.Subsection (3) clarifies that the report must include details of postal services provided under arrangements between a Post Office company and a universal postal service provider.
70.Under subsection (4) there is a requirement for a Post Office company to provide specific information in the report about the accessibility of post offices to particular groups or individuals. These include individuals living in rural and in urban areas, small businesses, disadvantaged individuals, individuals with low incomes, individuals with disabilities and elderly individuals.
71.Under the power contained in subsection (5) the Secretary of State can also require a Post Office company to include other information in the report.
72.Subsection (6) requires the Secretary of State to lay a copy of the annual report before Parliament.
73.Subsection (7) requires the Secretary of State to give a copy of the report to the Scottish Ministers, the Welsh Ministers and the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland.
74.Subsection (8) provides that a Post Office company's duty to provide an annual report on the network of post offices is enforceable by the Secretary of State through civil proceedings.