Commentary on Sections Schedule 8: Information provisions Part 1 Requirements to provide information to OFCOM
467.Paragraph 1 enables OFCOM to require information necessary to carry out their functions from current or former postal operators, those providing facilities or access points or who have provided them, or any other persons who appear to OFCOM to have information required by OFCOM to pursue their functions in relation to postal services. It gives examples of the purposes for which the information would be required.
468.Paragraph 2 limits the circumstances where OFCOM may require information for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is, or has been, a contravention of a condition of general application, which are defined as a regulatory condition other than a designated USP condition, a USP condition or a USP accounting condition. OFCOM must have had a complaint, have decided to carry out an investigation, have reason to suspect a contravention, or be considering universal service burden sharing directions.
469.Paragraph 3 enables OFCOM to require information to carry out comparative overviews of the quality and prices of postal services, and for statistical purposes.
470.Information required by OFCOM to carry out their functions or related purposes must be provided in the manner and within a reasonable period specified by OFCOM, and OFCOM must describe what the information is and why it is required. Such demand for information must be contained in a notice, except where information is required by OFCOM to ascertain who is liable to administrative charges payable as a result of Schedule 4.