Acts of Parliament relating to the Post Office:
Queen Elizabeth II 1952-date

In the listing below, if the title is hyperlinked, this is to the copy of the text on this site (if there is one yet). If the link has a after it, only the relevant part(s) of the Act are quoted. Some Acts (mostly relatively recent ones) are listed on the HM Government portal legislation.gov.uk and links to these are also provided if available. For an explanation of the referencing conventions for Acts as used below see this short guide.

(9th July 1952)Post Office (Amendment) Act 1952

15 & 16 Geo 6 & 1 Eliz 2 c.36
An Act to increase to threepence the maximum poundage payable in respect of postal orders for amounts not exceeding twenty-one shillings.

(31st July 1953)Post Office Act 1953

1 & 2 Eliz 2 c.36
An Act to consolidate certain enactments relating to the Post Office with corrections and improvements made under the Consolidation of Enactments (Procedure) Act, 1949.

[On legislation.gov.uk: as enacted and as amended]

(30th July 1954)Post Office (Site and Railway) Act 1954

2 & 3 Eliz 2 c.xxix
An Act to enable the Postmaster-General to acquire lands in London for the purposes of the Post Office and to construct for those purposes certain underground railway works in London, and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid.

(28th March 1961)Post Office Act 1961

9 & 10 Eliz 2 c.15
An Act to reorganise the financial arrangements of the Post Office; to amend the Post Office Act, 1953, and the Stamp Duties Management Act, 1891; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid.

(3rd July 1962)Recorded Delivery Service Act 1962

10 & 11 Eliz 2 c.27
An Act to authorise the sending by the recorded delivery service of certain documents and other things required or authorised to be sent by registered post; and for purposes connected therewith.

(6th February 1964)Post Office (Borrowing Powers) Act 1964

1964 c.3
An Act to increase the limits imposed by section 10(2) of the Post Office Act 1961.

(10th March 1966)Post Office Savings Bank Act 1966

1966 c.12
An Act to enable deposits in a post office savings bank to be received for investment in securities, and at rates of interest, other than those authorised by the Post Office Savings Bank Act 1954; to amend the provisions of that Act as to the making and receipt of deposits; and for purposes connected with those matters.

(22nd March 1967)Post Office (Borrowing Powers) Act 1967

1967 c.15
An Act to increase the limits imposed by section 10(2) of the Post Office Act 1961; to provide that nothing in section 10(1) of that Act shall prevent the operation of a giro system; and for connected purposes.

(27th July 1967)Post Office (Data Processing Service) Act 1967

1967 c.62
An Act to authorise the payment out of the Post Office Fund of the expenses of the Postmaster General in providing services and facilities for the processing of data by computer, and to impose an obligation of secrecy in connection with the provision by him of such services and facilities.

(27th July 1967)Wireless Telegraphy Act 1967

1967 c.72
An Act to enable the Postmaster General to obtain information as to the sale and hire of television receiving sets; to enable him to prohibit the manufacture or importation of certain wireless telegraphy apparatus; to make provision for requiring applicants for vehicle excise licences to give information about such apparatus installed in vehicles; to make miscellaneous amendments in the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949; and for connected purposes.

[On legislation.gov.uk: as amended]

(25th July 1969)Post Office Act 1969

1969 c.48
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.

[On legislation.gov.uk: as enacted and as amended]

(12th May 1971)National Savings Bank Act 1971

1971 c.29
An Act to consolidate certain enactments relating to the National Savings Bank, with amendments to give effect to recommendations of the Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission.

[On legislation.gov.uk: as enacted and as amended]

(21st December 1972)Post Office (Borrowing) Act 1972

1972 c.79
An Act to increase the statutory limits on the indebtedness of the Post Office and partially to release it from its liability to repay capital debt.

(8th February 1974)Statutory Corporations (Financial Provisions) Act 1974

1974 c.8
An Act to make provision for compensating certain statutory corporations in respect of financial loss due to compliance with the national policy relating to limitation of prices, and for extending the borrowing powers of certain statutory corporations; and for purposes connected with those matters.

[On legislation.gov.uk: as enacted and as amended]

(25th March 1976)Post Office (Banking Services) Act 1976

1976 c.10
An Act to extend the powers of the Post Office to provide banking services; to make capital available for the provision of those services; to reduce the capital debt of the Post Office; and for connected purposes.

[On legislation.gov.uk: as enacted and as amended]

(29th July 1977)Post Office Act 1977

1977 c.44
An Act to increase the maximum number of members of the Post Office.

(27th July 1981)British Telecommunications Act 1981

1981 c.38
An Act to establish a public corporation to be called British Telecommunications; to make provision with respect to its functions and to transfer to it certain property, rights and liabilities of the Post Office; to make further provision with respect to the Post Office; to provide for dealings by the Treasury in the shares of Cable and Wireless Limited; to amend the Telegraph Acts; and for connected purposes.

[On legislation.gov.uk: as enacted and as amended]

(27th July 1981)Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981

1981 c.45
An Act to make fresh provision for England and Wales and Northern Ireland with respect to forgery and kindred offences; to make fresh provision for Great Britain and Northern Ireland with respect to the counterfeiting of notes and coins and kindred offences; to amend the penalties for offences under section 63 of the Post Office Act 1953; and for connected purposes.

[On legislation.gov.uk: as enacted and as amended]

(12th April 1984)Telecommunications Act 1984

1984 c.12
An Act to provide for the appointment and functions of a Director General of Telecommunications; to abolish British Telecommunications' exclusive privilege with respect to telecommunications and to make new provision with respect to the provision of telecommunication services and certain related services; to make provision, in substitution for the Telegraph Acts 1863 to 1916 and Part IV of the Post Office Act 1969, for the matters there dealt with and related matters; to provide for the vesting of property, rights and liabilities of British Telecommunications in a company nominated by the Secretary of State and the subsequent dissolution of British Telecommunications; to make provision with respect to the finances of that company; to amend the Wireless Telegraphy Acts 1949 to 1967, to make further provision for facilitating enforcement of those Acts and otherwise to make provision with respect to wireless telegraphy apparatus and certain related apparatus; to give statutory authority for the payment out of money provided by Parliament of expenses incurred by the Secretary of State in providing a radio interference service; to increase the maximum number of members of British Telecommunications pending its dissolution; and for connected purposes.

[On legislation.gov.uk: as enacted and as amended]

(25th July 1985)Interception of Communications Act 1985

1985 c.56
An Act to make new provision for and in connection with the interception of communications sent by post or by means of public telecommunication systems and to amend section 45 of the Telecommunications Act 1984.

[On legislation.gov.uk: as enacted and as amended]

(5th November 1993)Railways Act 1993

1993 c.43
An Act to provide for the appointment and functions of a Rail Regulator and a Director of Passenger Rail Franchising and of users' consultative committees for the railway industry and for certain ferry services; to make new provision with respect to the provision of railway services and the persons by whom they are to be provided or who are to secure their provision; to make provision for and in connection with the grant and acquisition of rights over, and the disposal or other transfer and vesting of, any property, rights or liabilities by means of which railway services are, or are to be, provided; to amend the functions of the British Railways Board; to make provision with respect to the safety of railways and the protection of railway employees and members of the public from personal injury and other risks arising from the construction or operation of railways; to make further provision with respect to transport police; to make provision with respect to certain railway pension schemes; to make provision for and in connection with the payment of grants and subsidies in connection with railways and in connection with the provision of facilities for freight haulage by inland waterway; to make provision in relation to tramways and other guided transport systems; and for connected purposes.

[On legislation.gov.uk: as enacted and as amended]

One clause of this Act removed the power of the Post Office to compel railways to convey mail-bags on their trains

(28th July 2000)Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000

2000 c.23
An Act to make provision for and about the interception of communications, the acquisition and disclosure of data relating to communications, the carrying out of surveillance, the use of covert human intelligence sources and the acquisition of the means by which electronic data protected by encryption or passwords may be decrypted or accessed; to provide for Commissioners and a tribunal with functions and jurisdiction in relation to those matters, to entries on and interferences with property or with wireless telegraphy and to the carrying out of their functions by the Security Service, the Secret Intelligence Service and the Government Communications Headquarters; and for connected purposes.

[On legislation.gov.uk: as enacted and as amended]

(28th July 2000)Postal Services Act 2000

2000 c.26
An Act to establish the Postal Services Commission and the Consumer Council for Postal Services; to provide for the licensing of certain postal services and for a universal postal service; to provide for the vesting of the property, rights and liabilities of the Post Office in a company nominated by the Secretary of State and for the subsequent dissolution of the Post Office; to make further provision in relation to postal services; and for connected purposes.

[On legislation.gov.uk: as enacted and as amended]

(13th June 2011)Postal Services Act 2011

2011 c.5
An Act to make provision for the restructuring of the Royal Mail group and about the Royal Mail Pension Plan; to make new provision about the regulation of postal services, including provision for a special administration regime; and for connected purposes.

[On legislation.gov.uk: as enacted and as amended]