Dr. Tony WrightTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to amend the legal immunities of the Post Office in respect of the services it provides. [4981]
§ Mr. Ian McCartneyThe Post Office's immunity from contractual liability for ordinary post was granted by Parliament in the Post Office Act 1969 because of the very high volumes of mail handled and essentially unrestricted access to posting at over 100,000 pillar boxes and over 19,000 post offices.
In view of the fact that individual recording of each letter would be impracticable and would give rise both to substantial delays and large increases in costs, Parliament took the view that the acceptance of liability by the Post Office, without proof of posting or delivery, could give rise to an escalating level of fraudulent claims and to high costs which could be met only by a substantial increase in the standard letter tariffs. It is the Government's view 453W that the vast majority of mail users would not wish to see much higher tariffs or to obtain proof of posting for all items posted as the price for abolishing the Post Office's immunity. We therefore have no plans to introduce legislation to do so.