Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/5/schedule/8?view=extent&timeline=true
Timestamp: 2013-05-19 23:48:15
Document Index: 249143890

Matched Legal Cases: ['art. 3', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3']

Skip to main contentSkip to navigationlegislation.gov.ukThe National ArchivesHelpSite MapAccessibilityContact UsHomeAbout UsBrowse LegislationNew LegislationChanges to LegislationSearch LegislationSearch LegislationTitle: (or keywords in the title)Year:Number:Type:All Legislation (excluding draft)All Primary Legislation UK Public General Acts UK Local Acts Acts of the Scottish Parliament Acts of the National Assembly for Wales Measures of the National Assembly for Wales Church Measures Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly Acts of the Old Scottish Parliament Acts of the English Parliament Acts of the Old Irish Parliament Acts of the Parliament of Great Britain Northern Ireland Orders in Council Measures of the Northern Ireland Assembly Acts of the Northern Ireland ParliamentAll Secondary Legislation UK Statutory Instruments Wales Statutory Instruments Scottish Statutory Instruments Northern Ireland Statutory Rules Church Instruments UK Ministerial Orders UK Statutory Rules and OrdersAll Draft Legislation UK Draft Statutory Instruments Scottish Draft Statutory Instruments Northern Ireland Draft Statutory RulesAll Impact Assessments UK Impact AssessmentsSearchAdvanced SearchPostal Services Act 2011You are here:2011 c. 5SCHEDULE 8Table of ContentsContentExplanatory NotesMore ResourcesPrevious: ScheduleNext: SchedulePlain ViewPrint Options
Status:This version of this schedule contains provisions that are prospective.StatusThe term provision is used to describe a definable element in a piece of legislation that has legislative effect – such as a Part, Chapter or section. A version of a provision is prospective either:where the provision (Part, Chapter or section) has never come into force or;where the text of the provision is subject to change, but no date has yet been appointed by the appropriate person or body for those changes to come into force.Commencement Orders listed in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ box as not yet applied may bring this prospective version into force.Changes over time for: SCHEDULE 8Alternative versions:Prospective - AmendmentChanges to legislation:There are outstanding changes not yet made by the legislation.gov.uk editorial team to Postal Services Act 2011. Any changes that have already been made by the team appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.Changes to LegislationRevised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.Changes and effects yet to be applied to :Changes and effectsThis section lists the changes and effects yet to be applied to the specific provision you are viewing.Sch. 1-11 Coming into force by S.I. 2011/2329 art. 3Commencement Orders yet to be applied to the Postal Services Act 2011:Commencement OrdersThis section lists the commencement orders yet to be applied to the whole Act. These effects are included in this view as they may be (but won’t necessarily be) relevant to the specific provision that you are viewing. Where applicable the commencement orders are listed under two headings, firstly those that bring some part of the Act you are viewing into force and secondly, those that bring into force legislation that affects some part of the legislation you are viewing. If you are viewing a prospective version or there is a prospective version available there may be commencement orders listed here that are relevant to the provision you are viewing.Commencement Orders bringing provisions within this Act into force:S.I. 2011/2329 art. 2 3 commences (2011 c. 5)S.I. 2011/3044 art. 2 commences (2011 c. 5)Commencement Orders bringing legislation that affects this Act into force:S.I. 2012/628 art. 2-8 commences (2011 c. 20)S.I. 2012/1662 art. 2(2)(b) commences (2011 c. 24)ProspectiveSection 55SCHEDULE 8E+W+S+N.I.Information provisionsThis schedule has no associated Explanatory Notes Part 1 E+W+S+N.I.Requirements to provide information to OFCOMInformation required for purposes of OFCOM's functions in relation to postal servicesE+W+S+N.I.1(1)OFCOM may require a person falling within sub-paragraph (2) to provide them with all such information as they consider necessary for the purpose of carrying out any of their functions in relation to postal services.E+W+S+N.I.(2)The persons within this sub-paragraph are—(a)a person who is, or has been, a postal operator,(b)a person who provides, or has provided, access points or other facilities for use in connection with a postal service, and(c)a person not falling within paragraph (a) or (b) who appears to OFCOM to have information required by them for the purpose of carrying out any of their functions in relation to postal services.(3)The required information may, in particular, include information required for any one or more of the following purposes—(a)ascertaining whether a contravention of a regulatory requirement (within the meaning of Schedule 7) has occurred or is occurring,(b)ascertaining whether a provision of a regulatory condition which is for the time being in force continues to be effective for the purpose for which it was made,(c)making a designation in accordance with regulations made under section 35,(d)carrying out a review under section 35 or 44,(e)ascertaining or verifying amounts payable by virtue of section 46,(f)ascertaining or verifying charges payable under Schedule 4,(g)identifying markets and carrying out market analyses or assessments in accordance with, or for the purposes of, any enactment relating to postal services, and(h)statistical purposes connected with the carrying out of any of OFCOM's functions in relation to postal services.(4)A demand for information under this paragraph must be proportionate to the use to which the information is to be put in the carrying out of OFCOM's functions.Restrictions on imposing requirements in case of conditions of general applicationE+W+S+N.I.2(1)This paragraph limits the circumstances in which OFCOM may require the provision of information under paragraph 1 for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is, or has been, a contravention of a condition of general application.E+W+S+N.I.(2)OFCOM may require the provision of information for that purpose only if—(a)the requirement is imposed for the purpose of investigating a matter about which OFCOM have received a complaint,(b)the requirement is imposed for the purposes of an investigation that OFCOM have decided to carry out into whether or not the condition in question has been complied with,(c)the condition in question is one which OFCOM have reason to suspect is one that has been, or is being, contravened, or(d)the condition in question falls within section 42(2)(b).(3)A “condition of general application” means a regulatory condition other than a designated USP condition, a USP access condition or a USP accounting condition.Information required for related purposesE+W+S+N.I.3(1)OFCOM may require—E+W+S+N.I.(a)a postal operator, or(b)a person who provides access points or other facilities for use in connection with a postal service,to provide OFCOM with all such information as they consider necessary to carry out comparative overviews of the quality and prices of postal services.
(4)A demand for information under this paragraph must be proportionate to the use to which the information is to be put in the carrying out of OFCOM's functions.Manner in which information may be requiredE+W+S+N.I.4(1)A person required to provide information under paragraph 1 or 3 must provide it in such manner and within such reasonable period as may be specified by OFCOM.E+W+S+N.I.(2)OFCOM must require the provision of information under paragraph 1 or 3 by a demand which—(a)describes the required information, and(b)sets out OFCOM's reasons for requiring it.(3)The reasons for requiring information for statistical purposes under paragraph 1 or 3 must set out the statistical purposes for which the information is required.(4)A demand for information under paragraph 1 or 3 must be contained in a notice served on the person from whom the information is required.(5)This is subject to an exception in the case of information required by OFCOM for the purpose of ascertaining who is liable to charges under Schedule 4.(6)In that case, the demand—(a)may be made by being published in such manner as OFCOM consider appropriate for bringing it to the attention of the persons described in the demand as the persons from whom the information is required, and(b)may take the form of a general demand for a person so described to provide information when specified conditions relevant to the person's liability to the charges are satisfied. Part 2 E+W+S+N.I.EnforcementNotification of contravention of information requirementsE+W+S+N.I.5(1)OFCOM may give a person a notification under this paragraph if they determine that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the person is contravening, or has contravened, a requirement imposed under paragraph 1 or 3.E+W+S+N.I.(2)A notification under this paragraph must—(a)set out the determination made by OFCOM, and(b)specify the requirement and contravention in respect of which that determination has been made.(3)A notification under this paragraph must also specify the period during which the person notified has an opportunity—(a)to make representations about the matters notified, and(b)to comply with notified requirements of which the person remains in contravention.(4)The specified period must be at least one month beginning with the day after the day the notification is given unless—(a)OFCOM and the person notified agree a shorter period, or(b)OFCOM have reasonable grounds for believing that the contravention is a repeated contravention and, in those circumstances, consider a shorter period would be appropriate.(5)A contravention is a repeated contravention, in relation to a notification with respect to the contravention, if—(a)a previous notification has been given in respect of the same contravention or in respect of another contravention of the same requirement, and(b)the subsequent notification is given no more than 12 months after the day on which OFCOM determine for the purposes of paragraph 7(2) that the contravention to which the previous notification related did occur.(6)OFCOM may (on one or more occasions) extend the specified period.6(1)A notification under paragraph 5—E+W+S+N.I.(a)may be given in respect of more than one contravention, and(b)if it is given in respect of a continuing contravention, may be given in respect of any period during which the contravention has continued.(2)If a notification under paragraph 5 has been given to a person in respect of a contravention of a requirement, OFCOM may give a further notification in respect of the same contravention of that requirement only if—(a)the contravention occurs after the earlier notification is given,(b)the contravention is a continuing one and the subsequent notification is in respect of so much of a period as falls after a period to which the earlier notification relates, or(c)the earlier notification has been withdrawn without a penalty having been imposed in respect of the notified contravention.Penalties for contravention of information requirementsE+W+S+N.I.7(1)This paragraph applies if—E+W+S+N.I.(a)a person has been given a notification under paragraph 5,(b)OFCOM have allowed the person an opportunity of making representations about the matters notified, and(c)the period allowed for the making of the representations has ended.(2)OFCOM may impose a penalty on a person if—(a)they are satisfied that the person has, in one or more of the respects notified, been in contravention of a requirement specified in the notification under paragraph 5,(b)the person has not, during the period allowed under that paragraph, complied with the notified requirement, and(c)no proceedings for an offence under paragraph 13 have been brought against the notified person in respect of the contravention.(3)If a notification under paragraph 5 relates to more than one contravention, a separate penalty may be imposed in respect of each contravention.(4)If a notification under that paragraph relates to a continuing contravention, no more than one penalty may be imposed in respect of the period of contravention specified in the notification.(5)The amount of a penalty imposed under this paragraph is to be such amount as OFCOM determine to be—(a)appropriate, and(b)proportionate to the contravention in respect of which it is imposed.(6)The amount must not be more than £50,000.(7)In making the determination of the amount of the penalty OFCOM must have regard to—(a)any representations made to them by the person, and(b)any steps taken by the person towards complying with the requirements contraventions of which have been notified to the person under paragraph 5.(8)If OFCOM impose a penalty on a person under this paragraph, they must—(a)within one week of making their decision to impose the penalty, notify that person of that decision and of their reasons for it, and(b)in that notification, fix a reasonable period after it is given as the period within which the penalty is to be paid.(9)A penalty imposed under this paragraph—(a)must be paid to OFCOM, and(b)if not paid within the period fixed by them, is to be recoverable by them accordingly.(10)The Secretary of State may by order substitute a different maximum penalty for the maximum penalty for the time being specified in sub-paragraph (6).(11)An order under sub-paragraph (10) is subject to affirmative resolution procedure.Suspending service provision for contravention of information requirementsE+W+S+N.I.8(1)OFCOM may give a direction under this paragraph to any person who is providing one or more postal services (“the contravening person”).E+W+S+N.I.(2)A direction under this paragraph is a direction that the entitlement of the contravening person to provide postal services—(a)is suspended (either generally or in relation to particular services), or(b)is restricted in the respects set out in the direction.(3)OFCOM may give a direction under this paragraph only if they are satisfied that conditions A to C are met.(4)Condition A is that the contravening person is or has been in serious and repeated contravention of requirements imposed under paragraph 1 or 3.(5)Condition B is that an attempt, by the imposition of penalties under paragraph 7 or the bringing of proceedings under paragraph 13, to secure compliance with the contravened requirements has failed.(6)Condition C is that the giving of the direction is—(a)appropriate, and(b)proportionate to the seriousness (when repeated as they have been) of the contraventions.9(1)Unless it provides otherwise, a direction under paragraph 8 takes effect for an indefinite period beginning with the time at which it is notified to the person to whom it is given.E+W+S+N.I.(2)A direction under paragraph 8—(a)in providing for the effect of a suspension or restriction to be postponed, may provide for it to take effect only at a time determined by or in accordance with the terms of the direction, and(b)in connection with the suspension or restriction contained in the direction or with the postponement of its effect, may impose such conditions on the contravening person as appear to OFCOM to be appropriate for the purpose of protecting the users of that operator's services.(3)Those conditions may include a condition requiring the making of payments—(a)by way of compensation for loss or damage suffered by those users as a result of the direction, or(b)in respect of annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety to which those users have been put in consequence of the direction.(4)OFCOM may revoke a direction under paragraph 8 or modify its conditions—(a)with effect from such time as they may direct,(b)subject to compliance with such requirements as they may specify, and(c)to such extent and in relation to such services, or parts of a service, as they may determine.(5)For the purposes of paragraph 8 there are repeated contraventions by a person of requirements imposed under paragraph 1 or 3 to the extent that—(a)in the case of a previous notification given to that person under paragraph 5, OFCOM have determined for the purposes of paragraph 7(2) that a contravention did occur, and(b)in the period of 12 months following the day of the making of that determination, one or more further notifications have been given to that person in respect of contraventions of a requirement imposed under paragraph 1 or 3.(6)For the purposes of sub-paragraph (5) it does not matter whether the notifications relate to the same contravention or to different contraventions of the same or different requirements or of requirements under different paragraphs.10(1)OFCOM are not to give a direction under paragraph 8 unless they have—E+W+S+N.I.(a)notified the contravening person of the proposed direction and of the conditions (if any) which they are proposing to impose by that direction,(b)provided the contravening person with an opportunity of making representations about the proposals and of proposing steps for remedying the situation, and(c)considered every representation and proposal made to them during the period allowed by them for the contravening person to take advantage of that opportunity.(2)That period must be at least one month beginning with the day after the day the notification is given.(3)This paragraph does not apply in an urgent case (as to which, see paragraph 11).11(1)In an urgent case, OFCOM must, as soon as reasonably practicable after giving a direction under paragraph 8, give the contravening person—E+W+S+N.I.(a)an opportunity of making representations to them about the effect of the direction and of any of its conditions, and(b)an opportunity of proposing steps to remedy the situation.(2)A case is urgent for the purposes of this paragraph if OFCOM—(a)consider that it would be inappropriate, because the contraventions in question fall within sub-paragraph (3), to allow time, before giving the direction, for the making and consideration of representations, and(b)decide for that reason to act in accordance with this paragraph instead of paragraph 10.(3)The contraventions fall within this sub-paragraph if they have resulted in or create an immediate risk of—(a)a serious threat to the safety of the public, to public health or to national security,(b)serious economic or operational problems for persons providing postal services (other than the contravening person), or(c)serious economic or operational problems for users of postal services.Enforcement of directions under paragraph 8E+W+S+N.I.12(1)A person commits an offence if the person provides any service—E+W+S+N.I.(a)while the person's entitlement to do so is suspended by a direction under paragraph 8, or(b)in contravention of a restriction contained in a direction under that paragraph.(2)A person guilty of an offence under sub-paragraph (1) is liable—(a)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, and(b)on conviction on indictment, to a fine.Offences in connection with information requirementsE+W+S+N.I.13(1)A person who fails to provide information in accordance with a requirement imposed under paragraph 1 or 3 commits an offence.E+W+S+N.I.(2)A person guilty of an offence under sub-paragraph (1) is liable—(a)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, and(b)on conviction on indictment, to a fine.(3)A person does not commit an offence under sub-paragraph (1) if—(a)it was not reasonably practicable to comply with the requirement within the period specified by OFCOM, and(b)the person has taken all reasonable steps to provide the information after the end of that period.(4)A person commits an offence if—(a)in pursuance of a requirement under paragraph 1 or 3, the person provides any information that is false in any material particular, and(b)at the time the information is provided, the person knows it to be false or is reckless as to whether or not it is false.(5)A person guilty of an offence under sub-paragraph (4) is liable—(a)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, and(b)on conviction on indictment, to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both.(6)Proceedings for an offence under sub-paragraph (1) may be brought in respect of a contravention by a person of a requirement imposed under paragraph 1 or 3 only if—(a)OFCOM have given the person a notification under paragraph 5 in respect of the contravention,(b)the period allowed under that paragraph for doing the things mentioned in sub-paragraph (3) of that paragraph has ended without the required information having been provided, and(c)OFCOM have not imposed a financial penalty under paragraph 7 in respect of the contravention. Part 3 E+W+S+N.I.Supplementary provisionsStatement of policy on information gatheringE+W+S+N.I.14(1)OFCOM must prepare and publish a statement of their general policy with respect to—E+W+S+N.I.(a)the exercise of their powers under paragraph 1 or 3, and(b)the uses to which they are proposing to put information obtained under those paragraphs.(2)OFCOM may from time to time revise the statement.(3)Where OFCOM make or revise a statement under this paragraph, they must publish the statement in such manner as they consider appropriate for bringing it to the attention of the persons who, in their opinion, are likely to be affected by it.(4)In exercising the powers conferred by this Schedule, OFCOM must have regard to the statement for the time being in force under this paragraph.Provision of information by OFCOME+W+S+N.I.15(1)OFCOM must comply with a request made by a person—E+W+S+N.I.(a)to notify the person whether or not a notification is required to be submitted by the person under regulations made under section 48,(b)to notify the person whether a notification submitted for the purposes of those regulations satisfies the requirements of those regulations, or(c)to provide the person with such information about the person's rights as may be necessary for the purpose of facilitating the negotiation by the person of any right to be provided with access pursuant to an access condition.(2)A request for the purposes of this paragraph must be made in such manner as OFCOM may require.(3)OFCOM do not have to comply with a request under this paragraph if (without having been asked to do so) they have already given the person the notification or information for which the person is asking.(4)Any notification or information which under sub-paragraph (1) must be given or provided by OFCOM must be given or provided before the end of the period of one week beginning with the day on which the request was made to them.Previous: ScheduleNext: ScheduleBack to topOptions/HelpPrint OptionsPrint The Whole ActPDF The Whole ActWeb page The Whole ActPrint This Schedule onlyPDF This Schedule onlyWeb page This Schedule onlyYou have chosen to open The Whole ActThe Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. 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