§ 2. Mr. William Shepherdasked the Minister of Transport what was the loss sustained by the railway companies by pilferage in 1945 and 1938, respectively.
§ Mr. BarnesIn 1945 the four main line companies and the Cheshire Lines Committee paid £2,525,405 in respect of 732 641,389 claims for articles lost or stolen. This compares with a payment of £180,462 in respect of 151,426 claims in 1938. I regret that separate figures for pilferage are not available.
§ Mr. ShepherdIs the Minister able to tell us what has happened during this year; and would he say whether he considers there is any relation between this obvious decline in public morality and the success of the Government at the polls last year?
§ Mr. Hector HughesIs the Minister aware that this is due to the practice of leaving goods wagons unattended and un locked in sidings; and can he tell us in how many cases there were prosecutions and in how many there were convictions?
§ Mr. BarnesI cannot answer the latter part of the supplementary question with out notice, but I would assure my hon. and learned Friend that all possible pre cautions are taken by the companies.
§ Mr. Skeffington-LodgeCan the Minister say whether there has been any diminution in thieving recently?