HC Deb 03 April 1928 vol 215 c1789
40. Rear-Admiral BEAMISH

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in the registered post in this country, packets retain their separate identity throughout the whole transaction; if any complete individual record is kept for each packet; and if his Department has been able to trace the recent losses of valuable property and lay the blame?

Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSON

A considerable proportion of the registered correspondence handled by the Post Office is advised separately and individually from posting to delivery, but in certain circumstances registered letters are transferred within an office or advised from one office to another in bulk, a check being kept on the total number for each transfer or despatch. Full inquiry is made by experienced officers into every case of loss of a registered packet; and if my hon. and gallant Friend will furnish me with particulars of any loss which he has in mind, I will let him know how the matter stands.

Rear-Admiral BEAMISH

Have the losses shown a tendency to increase since before the war?

Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSON

I could not say that without notice. In any case, there has been no case of recent loss which has been connected with the system.