HL Deb 12 December 1957 vol 206 cc1083-5

3.10 p.m.

LORD MILNER OF LEEDS

My Lords, I beg to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will give the comparable percentages of letters and packages carried by the Post Office lost or stolen when (a) registered, and (b) sent by ordinary mail, respectively, during the last three years to the latest convenient date.]

LORD CHESHAM

My Lords, I am sorry that it is not possible to quote any comparable figures in the case of letters. The only records available relate to claims paid by the Post Office in respect of loss of registered letters. Compensation is not, of course, paid for lost unregistered letters. With regard to registered letters and parcels, and unregistered parcels, the percentages of claims paid to total traffic in the last three financial years are these. I am afraid I must apologise to the noble Lord in advance, as the percentages for which he has asked may seem a little difficult to follow, because they work out at fractions of 1 per cent. For registered letters, in the year 1954–55 the percentage lost amounted to 0.0036; in the year 1955–56 it amounted to 0.0031, and in 1956–57 it amounted to 0.0027.

With regard to registered parcels, in the first year I mentioned, that is 1954–55, the percentage lost was 0.004; in 1955–56, it was 0.006, and in 1956–57 0.008.

LORD LATHAM

Could we not take the noughts as read?

LORD CHESHAM

I think it is rather important that these noughts should be included as showing what a small fraction of 1 per cent. is concerned. I have only three more figures to give: these relate to unregistered parcels. The percentage of claims paid in relation to total traffic in the first year—that is 1954–55—was 0.019; in 1955–56 it was the same, and in 1956–57 it was 0.017.

LORD MILNER OF LEEDS

My Lords, I am obliged to the noble Lord but could he give us numbers, in addition to percentages? I think we might form some rather better idea of the quantities of packages lost if we had the numbers. Is it not possible to say how many letters sent by ordinary mail were lost, or how many indications were given, or claims made, showing the number of such letters lost? As I understand his reply, the noble Lord is not giving that information.

LORD CHESHAM

I cannot give that information, as I have explained to the noble Lord, because it simply does not exist. There is no compensation payable in the case of lost letters, and there are no figures available or obtainable that I could give him. I would willingly give them to him if I could but there is nothing in that respect that I can give to him. If I were to translate these horrible percentages into something a little more reasonable perhaps it would help the noble Lord. I have the figures of the total amounts here, and if he wishes I will give him them in ratio form. Perhaps that will help him.

LORD MILNER OF LEEDS

Cannot we have the number? Cannot we be told whether it is 100,000 or 200,000 or something of that sort?

LORD CHESHAM

Certainly. May I ask the noble Lord if he would like the figures for all three years in all three cases?

LORD MILNER OF LEEDS

Yes please.

LORD CHESHAM

In the case of registered letters in the year 1954–55, out of a total traffic of 104 million, the claims paid amounted to 3,783. In 1955–56 out of 106 million the claims paid were 3,267. In 1956–57 out of 94 million, the claims paid were 2,557. In the case of registered parcels, in the year 1954–55, out of a total of 16 million, the claims paid numbered 639. In the year 1955–56, out of 14 million, the claims paid were 791. In 1956–57, out of 11 million, the claims paid totalled 910. Now as to unregistered parcels. In the first year, out of 211 million, the claims paid were 40,804. In the second year, out of 207 million, the claims paid were 39,797, and in the last of the three years, out of a total of 222 million, the claims paid totalled 38,536.

LORD MILNER OF LEEDS

I am obliged to the noble Lord. It has been said—and what the truth of the matter is I should like to know—tlhat nowadays it is safer to send valuable documents, for example, by ordinary mail rather than by registered mail. Is the noble Lord in a position to say whether that is the case or not?

LORD CHESHAM

Without anticipating too much the answer to the noble Lord's second Question, which has yet to come. I should have said that that was definitely not the case.