HC Deb 03 November 1954 vol 532 cc359-61
14. Mrs. Mann

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what progress has been made in tracing or tracking those concerned in the robbery of the registered mail van which occurred on 23rd May, 1952.

Mr. Gammans

I am informed that police inquiries are continuing.

Mrs. Mann

Will the hon. Gentleman state the amount of money that is involved, and whether a motor car containing a very large sum of money was found after being abandoned by bandits?

Mr. Gammans

The hon. Lady is asking a question which is not on the Order Paper.

Mrs. Mann

If I put a Question on the Order Paper, will the hon. Gentleman answer it?

Mr. Gammans

I can give the answer now. Approximately £250,000 was involved and I believe that there was a case of some money found abandoned in another car.

Mr. Hobson

In view of the many statements that have appeared quite recently on this robbery, does not the hon. Gentleman think that it is about time his noble Friend made a new, up-to-date statement?

Mr. Gammans

I will put that point to my noble Friend, but I must point out that inquiries into this matter are almost entirely in the hands of the police, and, therefore, any further Questions about it, strictly speaking, should be addressed to the Home Secretary.

Mr. Hector Hughes

Is it not a perfectly futile thing for the hon. Gentleman to try to throw the blame on the police? Is it not the duty of his Department to take adequate care of Her Majesty's mail?

Mr. Gammans

I am not trying to throw the blame on the police. The point is that it is primarily the duty of the police to catch people who have done this sort of thing.

27. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many mail bag robberies have taken place in 1954; and the corresponding figure for 1953.

Mr. Gammans

The number of robberies as such is not available but 413 bags were recorded as missing during the first nine months of 1954, as compared with 638 in the corresponding period last year.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that reasonable progress is being made, because it is going to take a long time at this rate to cut down the number of missing mail bags?

Mr. Gammans

During the period to which we are referring, the total number of mailbags in circulation was 270 million.

Mr. I. O. Thomas

Will the hon. Gentleman indicate whether he has any power to intervene in the monopoly contract of mailbag robberies?

28. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what action has been taken to test a device making it impossible to steal mail vans, details of which were sent to his Department on 12th February last, and acknowledged under reference number 47686/52.

Mr. Gammans

The device was demonstrated on 16th February to security experts, who found it unsuitable for use by the Post Office; the inventor was so informed.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, according to information I have received from the company which is marketing this device, all it has received is a card of acknowledgement and it has no knowledge of the test to which the hon. Gentleman refers?

Mr. Gammans

If the hon. and gallant Member tells me that the demonstration has not taken place, as I am informed it has, I shall be most pleased to look into the matter.

Mrs. Mann

When the device has been found suitable, what action will be taken to see that it is not stolen?

Mr. Gammans

If a Post Office van fitted with this device were stolen, I am afraid that the device itself would also be stolen.