Post Office (Opened Letter)

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 20 January 1948.

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Photo of Mr Charles Hobson Mr Charles Hobson , Wembley North 12:00, 20 January 1948

I have been asked to reply, because the Post Office, and not the Customs, is at fault. As already explained in my right hon. Friend's letter to the hon and learned Member, there was no authority for opening this inland letter. By an error in sorting, the Post Office included the letter referred to in a batch of overseas letters which were proper to be submitted to the Customs authorities, and a Post Office official working with a Customs officer opened the letter without observing, as was part of his duty, that it had been incorrectly placed with letters addressed to overseas destinations I much regret this unfortunate occurrence, and suitable action has been taken which I hope will prevent any similar mistreatment.