20th January 2010
Mr Williams
Freedom of Information Unit
2nd Floor
[email address]
Royal Mail Sheffield
Pond Street
[FOI #24898 email]
Sheffield
S98 6HR
[Royal Mail Group request email]
www.royalmail.com
Dear Mr Wil iams
Re: Freedom of Information Request
I am writing in response to your requests for information both dated 19th December which
were received by us on 21st December 2009. We have considered your requests under the
terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. You requested the following information:
“Please supply any document or policy in relation to the handling of post addressed to
premises or PO boxes on the Isle of Man.
In particular:
1) Any fees payable to Isle of Man Post for onwards delivery of items originating in the UK
2) Any fees payable to Isle of Man Post for onwards delivery of items originating from
overseas postal administrations
3) Any fees charged to Isle of Man Post for handling of items originating from overseas
postal administrations
4) Which postal administration has responsibility for the transport of items from the UK to
the island?
5) What transport modes from the UK to the island are used for the different streams of
mail (first class, second class, inbound international)”
And;
“Please supply any document or policy in relation to the handling of post received from the
postal administration on the Isle of Man.
In particular:
1) Any fees charged to Isle of Man Post for onwards delivery of items addressed to the UK
Royal Mail Group Ltd is registered in England and Wales. Registered number 4138203. Registered office: 100 Victoria Embankment, London, EC4Y 0HQ.
© Royal Mail Group Ltd 2009– Page 1 of 3
Cont…
2) Any fees charged to Isle of Man Post for handling of item destined for international
delivery
3) The status that items posted on the Isle of Man have within the UK postal system, e.g.
are they treated as first or second class post.”
I can confirm that Royal Mail does hold the information you requested and falls as part of
the Contract and Operational Specification with IOM Post. However, this information is
considered to be exempt from disclosure under section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information
Act – Prejudice to Commercial Interests. This is on the basis that disclosure of this
information would be likely to damage the commercial relationship between Royal Mail and
the Isle of Man Post. We believe that the release of this information would be likely to
weaken the position of Royal Mail when negotiating future contracts for the provision of
these services. We also believe that disclosure of this information could prejudice Isle of
Man Post’s commercial interests by placing them at a disadvantage to competitors who
would be likely to bid for future contracts for postal services to and from the UK.
This exemption is subject to the public interest test, but we believe that in this case the
public interest lies in withholding information where disclosure could prejudice commercial
relationship. We believe that there is public interest in al owing normal market forces to
operate in this environment and in protecting the commercial interests of Royal Mail and
others. Disclosing the information via Freedom of Information would not in any way inform
the public or contribute to public interest in openness or transparency of public services.
Therefore we believe that in all circumstances of the case the public interest is best met by
applying the exemption and that the information should not be disclosed.
I am sorry that your request cannot be met on this occasion. If you are not satisfied with
this response, you do have a right of appeal. If you wish to do so please set out in writing
your grounds of appeal and send to The Head of Information Compliance, Royal Mail Group,
Company Secretary's Office, 100 Victoria Embankment, LONDON, EC4Y 0HQ. An internal
panel will then review the decision, and you will be advised of the outcome.
If you decide to appeal and are still not satisfied with our response you also have a right to
appeal to the Information Commissioner at:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545 700
Royal Mail Group Ltd is registered in England and Wales. Registered number 4138203. Registered office: 100 Victoria Embankment, London, EC4Y 0HQ.
© Royal Mail Group Ltd 2009– Page 2 of 3
Cont…
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
Yours sincerely
Daniel Tulp
Freedom of Information Manager
[Royal Mail Group request email]
Royal Mail Group Ltd is registered in England and Wales. Registered number 4138203. Registered office: 100 Victoria Embankment, London, EC4Y 0HQ.
© Royal Mail Group Ltd 2009– Page 3 of 3
