OpenLegislation

Post Office Act 1969

1969 c. 48 · Enacted 25 July 1969 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 2 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 25 June 2013.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
Sch. 4 para. 93(1A)insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 86
s. 74repealedPostal Services Act 2000 Sch. 9

An Act to abolish the office of master of the Post Office, distribute the business conducted by the holder thereof amongst authorities constituted for the purpose and make provision consequential on the abolition of that office and the distribution of the business so conducted; to amend, replace or repeal certain provisions of the enactments relating to posts, telegraphs and savings banks; to amend the law relating to stamp duty; and to empower the Treasury to dispose of their interest in the shares of Cable and Wireless Limited.

F1[25th July 1969]C1E1C2C3I1

Annotations to the whole text

Textual amendments

F1

Act repealed in part (Isle of Man) (22.7.2004) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004 (c. 14), Sch. 1 Pt. 17 Group 11(5)

Modifications

C1

Act amended (1.4.1996) by S.I. 1996/593, reg. 2, Sch. 1

C2

1.10.1969 appointed by S.I. 1969/1066 as the day which in the repealed s. 1(1) of the Act is specified as being referred to in the Act as the “appointed day”

C3

Act explained by British Telecommunications Act 1981 (c. 38), s. 66(6)

Commencement

I1

Act wholly in force at Royal Assent

Extent

E1

Act: This Act extends to the U.K. but see s. 88

Contents

  1. Part I
  2. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  3. Part II: The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications and his Functions
  4. 2The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications.
  5. 3Transfer to the Minister of the Postmaster General’s functions with respect to wireless telegraphy, and provisions consequential thereon. Repealed
  6. 4Transfer to the Minister of the Postmaster General’s functions under section 6 of the Commonwealth Telegraphs Act 1949.
  7. 5Transfer to the Minister of the Postmaster General’s power to make orders under the Recorded Delivery Service Act 1962.
  8. Part III: The new Authority for the Conduct of postal and telegraphic Business
  9. The Post Office
  10. 6The Post Office. Repealed
  11. Powers and Duties of the Post Office
  12. 7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  13. 8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  14. 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  15. 10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  16. Powers of the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications over the Post Office
  17. 11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  18. 12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  19. 13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  20. The Post Office Users’ Councils
  21. 14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  22. 15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  23. General Provisions as to Transfer to the Post Office of Property, Rights and Liabilities of the Postmaster General
  24. 16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  25. 17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  26. 18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  27. 19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  28. Transfer to the Post Office of the Postmaster General’s statutory Rights and Liabilities as to Mails and Telegraphs and of Rights and Liabilities, &c., of his under certain Acts authorising the Acquisition of Land or the Execution of Works
  29. 20Rights and liabilities as to conveyance of mails.
  30. 21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  31. 22Rights and liabilities, &c., arising out of Acts authorising the acquisition of land or the execution of works.
  32. 23—27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  33. Charges and other Terms and Conditions applicable to Services
  34. 28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  35. Limitation of Liability
  36. 29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  37. 30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  38. Finance
  39. 31, 32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  40. 33. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  41. 34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  42. 35, 36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  43. 37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  44. 38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  45. 39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  46. Banking
  47. 40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  48. 41. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  49. 42. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  50. Pensions and other Benefits
  51. 43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  52. 44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  53. 45. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  54. 46. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  55. 47. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  56. 48. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  57. 49Provisions as to pensions of former employees of Cable and Wireless Limited and certain other persons.
  58. 50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  59. 51. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  60. 52Rating Repealed
  61. 53Rating Repealed
  62. 54Rating Repealed
  63. Lands
  64. 55. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  65. 56. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  66. 57. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  67. 58. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  68. 59. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  69. 60. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  70. 61. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  71. 62. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  72. 63. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  73. Miscellaneous Matters
  74. 64. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  75. 65. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  76. 66. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  77. 67. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  78. 68. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  79. 69. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  80. 70. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  81. 71. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  82. 72. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  83. 73. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  84. 74Taxation of the Post Office’s profits and capital gains.
  85. 75Records.
  86. 76Consequential adaptations of enactments.
  87. 77. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  88. 78. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  89. 79. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  90. 80. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  91. 81. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  92. 82. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  93. 83. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  94. 84. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  95. 85. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  96. 86Interpretation of Part III.
  97. 87Power of Her Majesty in Council to make necessary provision if the Post Office surrenders privileges as regards the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands. Repealed
  98. Extent of Part III and related Schedules
  99. 88Extent of Part III and related Schedules.
  100. Part IV
  101. 89—92. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  102. Part V: Provisions for securing the Continuance of the Carrying on, under the Auspices of a Director of Savings in Place of the Postmaster General, of certain financial Business
  103. The Director of Savings
  104. 93Appointment, and functions and expenses, &c., of the Director of Savings.
  105. Replacement of the Postmaster General by the Director of Savings for the Purposes of the Post Office Savings Bank Acts 1954 and 1966, and Provisions consequential thereon
  106. 94The National Savings Bank.
  107. 95—105. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  108. 106, 107. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  109. Replacement of the Postmaster General by the Director of Savings for the Purposes of the National Debt Act 1958 and the National Loans Act 1968, and Provisions consequential thereon
  110. 108The stock register kept under Part I of the National Debt Act 1958.
  111. 109Power of the Treasury to raise money under the auspices of the Director of Savings.
  112. 110—112. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  113. Credits to the Post Office in respect of certain capital Expenditure incurred by the Postmaster General in Connection with annuity, savings bank and national debt Functions
  114. 113. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  115. Extent of Part V and Schedule 6
  116. 114Extent of Part V and Schedule 6.
  117. Part VI: Stamps and Stamp Duties
  118. Stamps
  119. 115, 116. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  120. 117. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  121. 118. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  122. 119. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  123. 120. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  124. 121. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  125. 122. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  126. 123. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  127. 124—126. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  128. 127. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  129. Special Provisions with respect to Northern Ireland
  130. 128. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  131. 129. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  132. Part VII: Miscellaneous and General
  133. 130, 131. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  134. 132Extension of regulation-making power under section 52(2) of the Government Annuities Act 1929.
  135. 133. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  136. 134Issue by local authorities in Great Britain of dog and game licences.
  137. 135Remuneration of the Post Office for issuing dog and game licences in England and Wales.
  138. 136Expenses.
  139. 137Cesser of obsolete, &c. enactments.
  140. 138Transitional provisions.
  141. 139Application to Northern Ireland.
  142. 140Construction of references to enactments.
  143. 141Repeals. Repealed
  144. 142Short title.
  145. Schedule 1: Incidental Provisions with respect to the Post Office and the Members thereof Repealed
  146. Status Repealed
  147. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  148. Members Repealed
  149. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  150. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  151. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  152. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  153. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  154. Proceedings Repealed
  155. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  156. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  157. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  158. Staff Repealed
  159. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  160. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  161. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  162. Fixing of Seal and Proof of Instruments Repealed
  163. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  164. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  165. 15Paragraph 15 Repealed
  166. Schedule 2: Classes of Assets to be held by the Post Office to match its Debts to its banking Customers
  167. Part I: Classes of Assets to be held to match a Proportion, determined under Section 41 of this Act, of Debts
  168. 1Paragraph 1
  169. 2Paragraph 2
  170. 3Paragraph 3
  171. 4Paragraph 4
  172. 5Paragraph 5
  173. 6Paragraph 6
  174. Part II: Classes of Assets to be held to match the Residue of Debts
  175. 7Paragraph 7
  176. 8Paragraph 8
  177. 9Paragraph 9
  178. 10Paragraph 10
  179. 11Paragraph 11
  180. 12Paragraph 12
  181. 13Paragraph 13
  182. 14Paragraph 14
  183. 15Paragraph 15
  184. 16Paragraph 16
  185. 17Paragraph 17
  186. Schedule 3: Modifications of Schedules 5 and 6 to the Roads Act (Northern Ireland) 1948 for the Purposes of Orders made under Section 56 of this Act
  187. 1Paragraph 1
  188. 2Paragraph 2
  189. 3Paragraph 3
  190. 4Paragraph 4
  191. 5Paragraph 5
  192. 6Paragraph 6
  193. Schedule 4: Adaptations of Enactments and Orders in Council consequential on the Assumption by the new Authority for the Conduct of postal and telegraphic Business of Functions exercised and performed before the appointed Day by the Postmaster General
  194. Part I: Interpretation
  195. 1Paragraph 1
  196. Part II: Adaptations of public general Enactments
  197. Adaptations of Enactments relating to the Post
  198. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  199. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  200. Adaptations of Enactments relating to Telegraphs
  201. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  202. 5, 6Paragraph 5, 6 Repealed
  203. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  204. Adaptations of Enactments relating to the Supply of Electricity
  205. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  206. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  207. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  208. 11Paragraph 11
  209. 12, 13Paragraph 12, 13 Repealed
  210. Adaptations of other Enactments
  211. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  212. 15Paragraph 15 Repealed
  213. 16—19Paragraph 16—19 Repealed
  214. 20Paragraph 20 Repealed
  215. 21Paragraph 21 Repealed
  216. 22Paragraph 22 Repealed
  217. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  218. 24Paragraph 24 Repealed
  219. 25Paragraph 25 Repealed
  220. 26Paragraph 26 Repealed
  221. 27Paragraph 27 Repealed
  222. 28, 29Paragraph 28, 29 Repealed
  223. 30Paragraph 30 Repealed
  224. 31Paragraph 31 Repealed
  225. 32Paragraph 32 Repealed
  226. 33Paragraph 33 Repealed
  227. 34Paragraph 34 Repealed
  228. 35Paragraph 35 Repealed
  229. 36Paragraph 36 Repealed
  230. 37Paragraph 37 Repealed
  231. 38Paragraph 38 Repealed
  232. 39, 40Paragraph 39, 40 Repealed
  233. 41Paragraph 41 Repealed
  234. 42Paragraph 42 Repealed
  235. 43Paragraph 43 Repealed
  236. 44Paragraph 44 Repealed
  237. 45Paragraph 45 Repealed
  238. 46Paragraph 46 Repealed
  239. 47Paragraph 47 Repealed
  240. 48Paragraph 48 Repealed
  241. 49Paragraph 49 Repealed
  242. 50Paragraph 50 Repealed
  243. 51Paragraph 51 Repealed
  244. 52Paragraph 52 Repealed
  245. 53Paragraph 53 Repealed
  246. 54Paragraph 54 Repealed
  247. 55Paragraph 55
  248. 56Paragraph 56 Repealed
  249. 57Paragraph 57 Repealed
  250. 58Paragraph 58 Repealed
  251. 59Paragraph 59
  252. 60Paragraph 60 Repealed
  253. 61Paragraph 61 Repealed
  254. 62—64Paragraph 62—64 Repealed
  255. 65Paragraph 65 Repealed
  256. 66Paragraph 66 Repealed
  257. 67Paragraph 67
  258. 68Paragraph 68 Repealed
  259. 69Paragraph 69 Repealed
  260. 70Paragraph 70 Repealed
  261. 71Paragraph 71 Repealed
  262. 72Paragraph 72 Repealed
  263. 73Paragraph 73
  264. 74Paragraph 74 Repealed
  265. 75Paragraph 75 Repealed
  266. 76Paragraph 76 Repealed
  267. 77Paragraph 77
  268. 78Paragraph 78 Repealed
  269. 79Paragraph 79 Repealed
  270. 80Paragraph 80
  271. 81Paragraph 81 Repealed
  272. 82Paragraph 82 Repealed
  273. 83Paragraph 83 Repealed
  274. 84Paragraph 84 Repealed
  275. 85Paragraph 85 Repealed
  276. 86Paragraph 86 Repealed
  277. 87Paragraph 87 Repealed
  278. 88Paragraph 88 Repealed
  279. 89Paragraph 89 Repealed
  280. 90Paragraph 90
  281. 91Paragraph 91 Repealed
  282. 92Paragraph 92 Repealed
  283. 93Paragraph 93
  284. 94Paragraph 94 Repealed
  285. Part III: Adaptations of local Enactments
  286. 95Paragraph 95 Repealed
  287. 96Paragraph 96
  288. 97Paragraph 97 Repealed
  289. 98Paragraph 98 Repealed
  290. 99Paragraph 99 Repealed
  291. 100Paragraph 100 Repealed
  292. 101, 102Paragraph 101, 102 Repealed
  293. Part IV: Adaptation of Orders in Council
  294. 103Paragraph 103 Repealed
  295. 104Paragraph 104 Repealed
  296. Schedule 5: Repair of minor Deficiencies in certain Acts
  297. 1Paragraph 1
  298. 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  299. 3Paragraph 3
  300. Schedule 6: Amendments of Acts consequential on Section 94 of this Act
  301. s I and IIPart s I and II
  302. Part III: Amendments of other enactments
  303. Enactments of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
  304. Enactments of the Parliament of Northern Ireland
  305. Schedule 7Schedule 7
  306. Schedule 8: Obsolete, &c., Enactments ceasing to have Effect Repealed
  307. Part I: Enactments ceasing to have Effect on the Passing of this Act Repealed
  308. Enactment of the Parliament of England Repealed
  309. Enactments of the Parliament of the United Kingdom Repealed
  310. Enactments of the Parliament of Northern Ireland Repealed
  311. Part II: Enactments ceasing to have Effect on the Appointed Day Repealed
  312. Enactment of the Parliament of the United Kingdom Repealed
  313. Enactment of the Parliament of Northern Ireland Repealed
  314. Schedule 9: General transitional Provisions
  315. 1Paragraph 1
  316. 2Paragraph 2
  317. 3Paragraph 3
  318. 4, 5Paragraph 4, 5 Repealed
  319. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  320. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  321. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  322. 9Paragraph 9
  323. 10Paragraph 10
  324. 11Paragraph 11
  325. 12Paragraph 12
  326. 13Paragraph 13
  327. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  328. 15, 16Paragraph 15, 16 Repealed
  329. 17Paragraph 17
  330. 18, 19Paragraph 18, 19 Repealed
  331. 20Paragraph 20 Repealed
  332. 21Paragraph 21 Repealed
  333. 22—26Paragraph 22—26 Repealed
  334. 27Paragraph 27
  335. 28Paragraph 28
  336. 29Paragraph 29
  337. 30Paragraph 30
  338. 31, 32Paragraph 31, 32 Repealed
  339. 33Paragraph 33 Repealed
  340. 34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  341. 35Paragraph 35 Repealed
  342. 36—47Paragraph 36—47 Repealed
  343. 48Paragraph 48 Repealed
  344. 49Paragraph 49 Repealed
  345. 50Paragraph 50 Repealed
  346. 51Paragraph 51
  347. 52Paragraph 52
  348. 53Paragraph 53
  349. 54Paragraph 54
  350. Schedule 10: Special transitional Provisions with respect to Patents for Inventions and Registered Designs
  351. Part I: Patents for Inventions
  352. 1Paragraph 1
  353. 2Paragraph 2
  354. 3Paragraph 3
  355. 4Paragraph 4
  356. 5Paragraph 5
  357. 6Paragraph 6
  358. 7Paragraph 7
  359. 8Paragraph 8
  360. 9Paragraph 9
  361. 10Paragraph 10
  362. 11Paragraph 11
  363. Part II: Registered Designs
  364. 12Paragraph 12
  365. 13Paragraph 13
  366. 14Paragraph 14
  367. 15Paragraph 15
  368. 16Paragraph 16
  369. 17Paragraph 17
  370. 18Paragraph 18
  371. 19Paragraph 19
  372. 20Paragraph 20
  373. 21Paragraph 21
  374. Schedule 11: Repeals and Revocations Repealed
  375. IEnactments repealed on the Passing of this Act Repealed
  376. Part II: Enactments repealed on the Appointed Day Repealed
  377. Enactment of the Parliament of the Great Britain Repealed
  378. Enactments of the Parliament of the United Kingdom Repealed
  379. Enactments of the Parliament of Northern Ireland Repealed
  380. IIIOrders In Council Revoked On The Appointed Day Repealed