HC Deb 06 April 1936 vol 310 cc2405-6
34. Mr. GARRO-JON ES

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Post. Office declines to pay any compensation for letter-packets lost in the post, even when the addressee has received communications from the Customs authorities stating that the packet has been received and inviting the addressee to witness the opening thereof, and that an example of such a case is a letter-packet addressed to Mr. A. C. Brown, 145, Pittodrie Place, Aberdeen, who can ill-afford to bear the loss caused by an accident or negligence in the Post Office; and whether he will take steps to bring fairer regulations into force?

The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Sir Walter Womersley)

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. So far as the second part is concerned, the sender of a letter can, by paying a small registration fee, provide for the payment of compensation in the event of the loss of that letter in the post.

Mr. GARRO-JONES

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this parcel came from abroad where we cannot expect a knowledge of the English Post Office regulations to exist; and will he ask his right hon. Friend whether, in view of the vast profits made by the Post Office, he is content to allow a situation to remain under which the Post Office is in a privileged position as compared with a private business?

Sir W. WOMERSLEY

I am aware that this parcel came from abroad. My right hon. Friend has given great consideration to this question of compensation, and he is of the definite opinion that to pay compensation for an unregistered packet would defeat the whole object of having the registration system.

Mr. GARRO-JONES

Is the Post master-General relying on the existing regulations which prohibit him, or does he say he has no power?

Sir W. WOMERSLEY

My right hon. Friend is certainly relying on the existing regulations.

Mr. GARRO-JONES

Does the Postmaster-General rely on the fact that he has no power, or is he refusing to grant compensation, although he has the power?

Sir W. WOMERSLEY

He is relying on the regulations, under which he has no power to make any payment.

Sir P. HANNON

On a point of Order. May I ask whether a question of this kind' affecting an individual could not have been dealt with by correspondence with the Post Office instead of wasting the time of the House?

Mr. SPEAKER

That is for the hon. Member and not for me to say.