Captain O'CONNORasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a registered package posted in France was delivered at Dunstable recently with the package open and the contents lost, and that the Post Office has disclaimed liability in such circumstances, on the ground that compensation is only payable in cases in which the covering as well as the contents are lost; upon which Regulation this decision is based; and whether he will take steps to pay compensation in similar cases in future?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe Regulations of the International Postal Convention, to which this country is a party, provide that compensation is only payable in the case of the entire loss of a registered letter and not in the case of loss of contents. The rule is clearly stated in the Post Office Guide, and on the receipt form given to the sender of a 1929W registered letter. I regret therefore that I am precluded from accepting liability in such cases as that to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers.