§ Sir R. Gowerasked the Postmaster-General the amount of the losses which have resulted since September, 1939, from Post Office savings banks frauds; and whether he can give any information as to the new scheme which is to be introduced to prevent frauds of this kind?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonThe amount of loss in respect of fraudulent withdrawals from the Post Office Savings Bank from the outbreak of the war to the end of August, 1942, is approximately £74,000, which represents only a little more than 1½d. per £100 of the bank's enormous 789W turnover. An increase in the amount of fraudulent withdrawals has occurred since September, 1939, and this is due in the main to the relaxation of normal peacetime safeguards necessitated by war-time conditions and to the increase in criminality which usually accompanies war. Various additional precautions have been taken, and these have met with some success. The position is constantly being examined, but it would not be in the public interest for me to give information concerning further precautionary methods which may yet be introduced.