§ 26. Sir Percy Harrisasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the shortage of cycles and the desirability of everybody avoiding unnecessary travel by motorbus or train, he will issue instructions that safe accommodation be given Post Office employees for the storage of their cycles, and where enclosed accommodation cannot be found a responsible individual be placed in charge of the parking place to prevent theft?
§ The Postmaster-General (Mr. W. S. Morrison)Accommodation is normally provided by the Post Office at the risk of the user for the private cycles of members of the manipulative staff who live more than one mile away and use cycles in going to and from work. This accommodation is generally on Post Office premises, where the arrangements for safeguarding are satisfactory, but exigencies of space at a few offices preclude the provision of special accommodation on Post Office premises. I could not undertake to arrange for special staff to look after the machines. As regards the administrative offices, the practice adopted is that in force throughout the Civil Service, and accommodation is only provided in cases where the office is difficult of access by ordinary means of communication.
§ Sir P. HarrisIn view of the war conditions, could not my right hon. Friend see whether he can do something to make 881 it safer for Post Office employees to travel by bicycle, which is much to be encouraged in view of the idea that everybody should not use trains and buses as far as possible?
§ Mr. MorrisonI agree with my right hon. Friend. Postmasters do as much as they can, but sometimes they cannot do as much as they would like because there is not enough room.