52. Sir WILLIAM REFIRINGasked the Postmaster-General the number of registered and other postal packages lost in transit containing valuables and money orders during the period of nine months prior to 30th September, 1926; the total amount of claims made by senders in respect thereto and the amount paid in settlement of claims, respectively; and the number of parcel post packages lost during the same period in transit, the estimated value claimed in compensation and amounts paid in settlement of claims, and the number of Post Office servants prosecuted and convicted for thefts or larceny during that period?
§ Viscount WOLMERAs the reply to this question contains a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ The figures referred to are an follow:
| Number. | Amount of Compensation Paid. | |
| £ | ||
| Registered letters | 597 | 2,532 |
| Registered parcels | 29 | 45 |
| Unregistered parcels | 6,465 | 6,267 |
§ The numbers of Post Office servants prosecuted and convicted for theft out of the post during the same period are:
| Prosecuted. | Convicted. | |
| England and Wales | 131 | 129 |
| Northern Ireland | 3 | 3 |
| Scotland | 14 | 14 |
| Total | 143 | 146 |
§ The total number of inland parcels for the nine months was 94,500,000, and the number of registered letters and parcels about 45,000,000.
1901§ 54. Sir W. PERRINGasked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been called to the losses incurred by West End stores by reason of parcels lost in transit in the parcel post service, particularly through the South-Western Post Office, during the past 12 months; what measures he has taken to prevent these losses and theft during the transmission in the postal service; is be aware that in privately-owned parcel delivery companies serious losses do not occur, with the system of checking in operation; and, in view of the circumstances, will he introduce a higher scale of compensation than that now in vogue in the postal services?
§ Viscount WOLMERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Every effort is being made to stop the losses referred to. Registered parcels can be insured up to £400, which sum is,, I think, sufficient; but I am considering whether any improvement can be made in the existing system of checking parcels.
§ Mr. AMMONIs there any evidence that the large number of temporary persons employed has anything to do with these losses?
§ Viscount WOLMERNo, I cannot say that there is any evidence of that.