§ 26. Mr. Shepherdasked the Postmaster-General on how many occasions during the past five years the Post Office has paid compensation in respect of parcels damaged as a result of inadequate repacking by Customs officials after exam nation in this country; and what representations have been made to Customs and Excise with a view to a higher standard of repacking.
§ Mr. MawbyParcels selected by Customs for examination are unpacked and repacked by Post Office staff. Records of compensation cases in the form referred to by my hon. Friend are not kept, and such records as we have do not, in any case, go back for five years; but I can say that, during the past 12 months, 187 claims for compensation have been paid in respect of damage to incoming parcels said to have resulted from inadequate repacking after Customs examination.
§ Mr. ShepherdIs my hon. Friend satisfied that nothing can be done to improve the repacking of these parcels, since it is very disappointing to the recipient of a present to find that it has been damaged as a result of carelessness on the part of the Post Office?
§ Mr. MawbyNo, I am not satisfied with the position at all. Instructions are given to our staff that they should not disturb the packet more than is absolutely essential and that they should take care to make certain that the package is properly repacked. We shall do everything we possibly can to see that these instructions are properly carried out.
§ Sir W. Bromley-DavenportIs it not most unfair to blame the Post Office for this damage? Is it not largely due to British Railways?
§ Mr. MawbyIt all depends on how the parcel travels. Obviously, at some point it will usually travel on the railways. However, neither the railways 215 nor we are completely satisfied with the way things are handled and we are doing everything we can to make it better.