Postcomm's review of the PAF proposes that Royal Mail should create a separate business unit dedicated to the PAF and should introduce objective and fair contractual arrangements with suppliers of address data, such as local authorities.
In addition, Royal Mail should design a flexible and responsive licensing framework that promotes use of the PAF and encourages accurate addressing, as well as introducing greater transparency in finances and decision making.
Nigel Stapleton, Postcomm chairman, said: "PAF has become an essential resource for UK businesses as well as a vital part of the UK postal industry.
"We think it is right that Royal Mail should continue to own and manage it, but in the fully competitive mail market we need to make sure it is not used by Royal Mail to discriminate against its competitors."
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