HC Deb 22 May 1905 vol 146 c963
DR. HUTCHINSON

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he could see his way to rescind the regulation as to the compulsory registration of pathological material sent by post, and allow in its place some distinctive mark upon the envelope.

THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Lord STANLEY, Lancashire, Westhoughton)

In view of the risk attending the transmission of pathological material by post it is important that special precautions should be taken. The regulation which requires that such material shall be registered is, in my opinion, a necessary one, and I regret that I cannot see my way to modify it.

DR. HUTCHINSON

Arising out of the Question I should like to call the right hon. Gentleman's attention to the fact that something like half a million of these specimens were sent through the post during last year, and the law was not carried out, while no injury was caused to anybody. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in consequence of post offices closing at 8 o'clock on Saturday nights and not opening till 8 o'clock on Monday mornings, a great deal of inconvenience and even danger is caused, and will he therefore reconsider the question.

LORD STANLEY

No, Sir. I think special precautions should be taken in the interests of the staff, and I am not prepared to modify the present arrangements.