§ 1. Major Sir Basil Neven-Spenceasked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware of the growing volume of adverse criticism of his Department owing to the damage done to packages transmitted by parcel post; and if he will give orders for greater care to be taken.
§ The Assistant Postmaster-General (Mr. Burke)The proportion of parcels damaged is very small and is, in fact smaller today than prewar, though the decrease is in part due to the smaller number of fragile articles today transmitted by post. In the year 1944–45 the number of parcels damaged in the post is estimated at some 120 per million parcels posted, as compared with some 200 per millionin 1938–39. There has been a considerable deterioration in the standard of packing during the last few years owing to the scarcity of paper and other packing materials. Standing instructions are already in force that all postal packets should be handled carefully, and every effort is made to impress their importance on the staff concerned.