HC Deb 20 April 1943 vol 388 c1540
57. Mr. Mathers

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will arrange to waive the use of the special Customs label on parcels containing dutiable articles sent by relatives to British prisoners of war, in order that they may be rendered less liable to pilferage?

Sir K. Wood

No, Sir. My right hon. and gallant Friend the Postmaster-General has already informed my hon. Friend that he has no evidence of pilferages on any appreciable scale from these parcels before despatch from this country. The label in question, which contains no indication of the contents, is necessary for the purpose of Revenue control not only on parcels to prisoners of war, but on other parcels sent abroad containing dutiable goods and I cannot undertake to dispense with it.

Mr. Mathers

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that I provided the Postmaster-General with the information and that the Minister of War Transport, has admitted the serious extent of this pilferage and that he has already agreed to the label being waived in the case of Red Cross parcels?

Sir K. Wood

I think that was dealt with in the Postmaster-General's statement on the matter.