A co-conspirator writes:

Was speaking to a relative who works for HMRC in one of their smaller offices. He says that since the data loss last year, the instructions from above are that all bundles of tax returns being sent from one office to another MUST be sent by “track and trace” if the number of returns is 50 or greater. This is not an unusual amount to send, but he informs me that since the instruction was sent out, the standard practice is to send returns in bundles of 49. Not only is it cheaper but it apparently saves the hassle of paperwork on track the parcels. Senior management are aware of this practice but do nothing to stop it. There are literally hundreds of our tax returns being mailed around the country everyday and for the want of an extra pound or so on each parcel, and the hassle of paperwork, they are all being sent unsecured. One HMRC office cannot confirm to another that it has actually received the returns!!!