§ MR. DAVID MORGAN (Essex, Walthamstow)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that counter clerks in London are entrusted with certain stock, stamps, and postal orders, for which they are held responsible, and that the stock is periodically checked by officials from the Controlling Office, who open the safe and cupboards frequently in the absence of the men affected, he will direct that the clerk with whom the property is entrusted shall always be present when the accounting takes place.
LORD STANLEYThe examination of the whole of the stocks of stamps, postal orders, cash in hand, etc., at each office, has to be made at one time as the separate sub-stocks form part of a whole balance. So far as is possible the examination of the sub-stocks are made in the presence of the officer holding the sub-stock, but when owing to his not being on duty this cannot be done, the officer's interests are safeguarded by the examination being made in the presence of one of his colleagues, who witnesses the counting of the money, stamps, etc, and the replacing of the stock in the safe under lock and key.