§ 95. Viscount Hinchingbrookeasked the Postmaster-General, what categories of inland and external mail are subject to visual and radiographic inspection; what principles govern whether such mail is returned, stopped or transmitted; how much more mail is examined now than in 1939; and whether, in order to allay public anxiety, he will make as full a statement as security considerations permit.
§ Mr. HobsonI am glad to have this opportunity of making a statement on this matter. I presume that the hon. Member is not here referring to those categories of postal packets—such as printed papers—which are liable to examination under the normal conditions of the services in question as set out in the Post Office Guide, or to undeliverable postal packets which are opened by officers of the Post Office under powers conferred by the Post Office Act of 1908 in order that, whenever possible, they may be returned to the senders.
There is no general inspection, visual or radiographic, of postal packets as such beyond that visual scrutiny which necessary to get them to their destination. Except under the authority of a Warrant issued by a Secretary of State, it is an offence for an officer of the Post Office to open a packet in course of transmission by post save in the case of postal packets sent from or to the United Kingdom if requested to do so by the proper officer of Customs and Excise. Such opening is undertaken under powers conferred by the Exchange Control Act, 1947. In disposing of such postal packets after examination by the Customs, officers of the Post Office act on the instructions of the Customs officer who alone is responsible for deciding whether they shall be returned, stopped or transmitted. 51W Information as regards the numbers of items opened under the authorities I have mentioned is not available.