§ 7. Sir W. Smithersasked the Assistant Postmaster-General, in view of the recent robberies of Her Majesty's mail, if he will make a statement as to the extent to which the system is at fault; and what steps are being taken to prevent further outrages.
§ 9. Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he has any further statement to make with regard to the recent mail bag robbery.
§ The Assistant Postmaster-General (Mr. David Gammans)There is nothing I can say beyond telling the House that a large number of search warrants have been issued and houses have been searched. I can assure the House that the case is being vigorously handled.
§ Sir W. SmithersAre not my hon. Friend and the country aware that this increasing wave of crime, of which this instance is typical, is due mainly to six years of the irresponsible policy of Socialism in action?
§ Mr. ShinwellWill not the Assistant-Postmaster-General repudiate this foul allegation that the Labour Government was responsible for this mail outrage?
§ Mr. GammansThe supplementary question does not in any way arise out of the original Question or my answer to it.
§ Mr. Hector HughesWhy are these large sums of money transported at a time and in a manner which is most convenient to the robbers? By that I mean: Why are they transported in the darkness of the night and without an adequate guard?
§ Mr. GammansIf the hon. and learned Gentleman was in the House when this matter was raised two or three weeks ago he would have heard me tell the House that there is nothing in the least abnormal about these particular consignments. They are going on every night, and have gone on for 30 years or more without any loss at all.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsWill the hon. Gentleman seek to inconvenience robbers in future?
§ 10. Sir Edward Keelingasked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether the Postmaster-General will seek powers to refuse bank notes for despatch by post to the Bank of England for destruction unless they are cut into halves, sent separately, or have the corners removed.
§ Mr. GammansNo, Sir; my noble Friend does not consider he would be justified in taking this step, which is primarily the concern of the banks.
§ Sir E. KeelingCan my hon. Friend confirm what has been stated since this Question was put down, namely, that most of the notes stolen in the recent big robbery were not old notes sent for destruction but new notes transferred to a bank. to which, therefore, my suggestion does not apply?
§ Mr. GammansIt is not so much new notes. A very large percentage were not soiled notes coming back to London but surplus funds being transferred from one branch of a bank to another.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs it true that the arrests of suspected malefactors are being held up until the loot has been located; and will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind the undesirability of postponing such arrests as may be made for an unduly long period?
§ 11. Mr. Hobsonasked the Assistant Postmaster-General if any special routing instructions were given to the driver of the mail van which was robbed near Oxford Street on 21st May.
§ Mr. GammansYes, Sir; but it would be against the public interest to disclose their nature.
§ Mr. HobsonAm I to understand that specific instructions were given to the mail van that was robbed as to the route it should follow?
§ Mr. GammansYes, Sir.
§ Mr. GammansThere is a standing instruction given to these vans. I hope the right hon. Gentleman will not press me to say what they are. I am sure he would agree that it would not be in the public interest for me to give the details of the instructions which are given to drivers of these vans.
§ Mr. EdeI do not think the hon. Gentleman has quite grasped the question I put. He told my hon. Friend that these were specific instructions for this van. I asked: how long before the van moved off were these instructions given in this case?
§ Mr. GammansI should want specific notice of that particular point.