§ Flight-Lieutenant Challenasked the Postmaster-General the approximate number of parcels which have been stolen during transit from main-line railways in England, Scotland and Wales during the past six months; what advantages would accrue to the public if all parcels sent were registered; and what addition to the labour force in the post offices this would entail?
§ Captain CrookshankI regret I have no figures precisely in the form desired by the hon. Member; but in the six months ended 30th June some 2,600 bags of parcels out of more than 10,000,000 bags despatched are known to have been lost or rifled in Great Britain and Northern Ireland during transit on the railway or elsewhere. The registration of a parcel confers no additional security against theft whilst in transit on the railway. I cannot say exactly what addition to the labour force would be entailed if all parcels were registered but the staff time required for the handling of a registered parcel is approximately five times that for an ordinary parcel.