HC Deb 23 April 1923 vol 163 cc43-4
99. Mr. WALLHEAD

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that private letters from the Continent are opened at the General Post Office, and that very recently a letter dealing with business matters, addressed to the town clerk of Merthyr by a business firm in Paris, was so opened; whether he will state what are the reasons for the postal authorities tampering with private correspondence; and whether he will take steps to see that such practice is discontinued?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

If the hon. Member will be good enough to send me the cover of the letter to which he refers I will have inquiry made.

Mr. WALLHEAD

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the last two points of my question? What are the reasons?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I am afraid the hon. Gentleman has not satisfied me that any letter has been opened by the Post Office. Until I get evidence of that I cannot answer the other parts of the question.

Mr. SNOWDEN

Is there any practice at the Post Office of opening correspondence either inland or foreign?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

No letter is opened without the expressed warrant of the Home Office.

Mr. WEBB

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in a work recently published by a late member of the Government, it is stated that the practice has been changed, and that, instead of a warrant for each letter, a general warrant is now issued that all letters addressed to specified persons should be opened?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I have not had the privilege of reading all the works by members of the late Government, or even of reading all their speeches, but I think it is correct that if the Secretary of State sent me a warrant to deal with the correspondence directed to a particular person, I should have authority to open them all.

Mr. WALLHEAD

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Town Clerk of Merthyr says the Post Office authorities sent him a slip saying they had opened this particular letter?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

It would be fairer if the hon. Member would send me that slip. I have already told him that I will make further inquiry.