141. Lieut. - Commander Hutchisonasked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that many gift parcels sent from people in the Dominions to friends in this country are not being delivered; that no notification as to the fate of such parcels is being given to either senders or addressees; and what is the Government's policy in regard to the confiscation of gift parcels.
§ Mr. BurkeThe impression in the public mind that a large proportion of the gift parcels sent by post from the Dominions28W to this country is not delivered is entirely erroneous, and in order to explain the position my noble Friend recently issued a detailed statement, of which I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy. The chief source of difficulty is the long time which elapses before the parcels reach this country, particularly from Australia and New Zealand. Any confiscation of gift parcels for infringement of the Import Licencing regulations is the responsibility of the Customs Department. I am informed however that in such cases a notice of seizure is invariably sent to the addressee, who has the opportunity of applying for an import licence, and that the number of parcels confiscated during the first five months of this year was less than one in every eighty thousand. The direction of policy in this matter is the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the President of the Board of Trade.