Catalogue description Records of the Post Office Users' National Council (POUNC)

The Post Office Users' National Council (POUNC) was set up under sections 14 and 15 of the Post Office Act of July 1969, and came into being on 13 January 1970. Its function was to act as an independent watchdog on Post Office activities and to protect and represent the interests of Post Office users. The Council was empowered to consider any matters affecting Post Office services, including matters referred to it by a Minister of Post and Telecommunications or the Post Office, who was statutorily required to consult the Council on major changes. The Chairman and other members of the National Council were appointed by the minister responsible for postal and telecommunications matters (successively ministers from the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, the Department of Industry and the Department of Trade and Industry). The Act also established regional 'Country Councils' for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, whose chairmen, appointed by the same minister, also sat on the National Council.

The National Council considered and investigated issues relating to Post Office services, including matters referred to it by users, ministers or the Post Office. It was also able to bring matters to the attention of the minister responsible for posts and telecommunications. Under section 15 of the 1969 Act the Post Office was required to consult the Council about major proposals for change, such as increases in tariff charges. The British Telecommunications Act of 1981, which transferred responsibility for telecommunications services from the Post Office to British Telecommunications, also contained provisions to enable the National Council to continue to monitor these services.

The National Council met twice a year and reported annually to the minister responsible for posts and telecommunications on the exercise and performance of its functions.

POUNC was abolished, and simultaneously replaced by the Consumer Council for Postal Services (known as PostWatch), under s. 2 of the Postal Services Act 2000.