§ Mr. TOUCHEasked if, in estimating the extent to which parcels are damaged in the post, any allowance is made by the postal authorities for the number of parcels injured in the post about which no complaints are made, or if it is assumed that serious damage is restricted to those about which complaints are made?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELAny general estimate of the extent to which parcels are damaged in the post has regard not only to the number of complaints received, but to the observation of my officers and to the reports made to me on the subject from time to time, but statistics relating to complaints of damage can, of course, only be based on the number of actual complaints received.
§ Mr. TOUCHEasked if the right hon. Gentleman can say approximately how many complaints of parcels being injured in the post have been received at the chief office in London, according to the figures supplied to him in response to his recent inquiry on the subject, giving as nearly as may be the actual number instead of the proportion per thousand of parcels handled?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELAs the hon. Member presses for the figures supplied to me in response to my recent inquiries, I will give them. As I stated in my answer to him of the 22nd February last, complete and trustworthy figures could not be given without communication with every head office in the United Kingdom. The number of complaints received at the chief office in London was, during January, 1911, 2,929, and during January, 1912, 1,796. The number of parcels delivered in England and Wales during the period in respect of which these complaints may be presumed to have arisen was, in December, 1910, 13,179,619, and in December, 1911, 13,249,104.
§ Mr. TOUCHEasked if the right hon. Gentleman can say approximately what proportion of parcels sent by parcels post require special handling; and if the estimate of the proportion of those about which complaint is made on the ground of damage in transit relates to the total number of parcels sent or to the number requiring special handling?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELIf the information which the hon. Member desires is what proportion of parcels can, if properly packed, be conveyed as safely in bags as in baskets, the answer is that, according to the estimates furnished by some of my most experienced officers, the proportion is about 95 per cent. For the remainder baskets or other special means of protection are used when possible, as has always been the practice. In reply to the second part of his question, I beg to refer him to my answer of 22nd February, which shows clearly that the estimated number of complaints received was compared with the total number of parcels sent.
§ Mr. TOUCHEasked if the right hon. Gentleman can say how many business firms and chambers of trade and commerce have made representations about parcels injured in the post since the extended use of canvas bags instead of wicker baskets?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI understand the hon. Member's question to have reference to general representations made to the chief office in London. The answer is that ten firms and eighteen chambers of trade and commerce have made such representations.