33. Miss Wardasked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many applications for reimbursement of losses in connection with registered letters have been received since November, 1951, to date; in how many cases compensation was refused; and in how many cases the decisions were reversed on a second application.
§ Mr. GammansI am sorry that information, in the form desired by my hon. Friend, is not available. In the financial year 1951–52 the Post Office paid 7,820 claims for loss and damage to inland registered letters, but the number of claims which were rejected altogether, or allowed only after appeal against a first refusal, is not recorded centrally.
Miss WardIn view of the incident which I reported to my hon. Friend, and on which he very kindly took action, does he not think that the information ought to be available? His answer fills me with suspicion.
§ Mr. GammansIt would be a waste of time if we were to keep all statistics centrally. This happens to be one of the statistics which are not kept in London.