HC Deb 14 December 1960 vol 632 cc395-6
26. Mr. D. Jones

asked the Postmaster-General if he will arrange, in consultation with the British Transport Commission, for the provision of additional safety measures for the conveying of mail bags on British Railways, such as padlocks on the door of the grill and a lock on the grill itself.

28. Mr. Compton Carr

asked the Postmaster-General what further steps are being taken to protect the mails on trains from thieves.

31. Mr. Lipton

asked the Postmaster-General what action he is taking to prevent mail thefts on trains.

Mr. Bevins

Bolts and chains have already been fitted on certain trains to protect the guards and the mails. In collaboration with my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Transport and the British Transport Commission we are working urgently on a number of other security measures, including some on the lines mentioned by the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. D. Jones).

Mr. Jones

The guards of British Railways will welcome that reply if the action is expedited without delay. At the moment they are under grave misgiving because these recommendations are not in effect.

Mr. Bevins

I am sure that that is appreciated by my right hon. Friend and by the British Transport Commission.

Mr. Speaker

Order. The right hon. Gentleman cannot answer that which is not a question.

Mr. Lipton

If the various measures now under contemplation prove inadequate, will the right hon. Gentleman propose, as a temporary measure, the use of troops to guard mails on the trains when they are not watching "The Army Game" on television?

Mr. Carr

Will my right hon. Friend see that as great as possible an amount of attention is paid to the safeguarding of mail on passenger corridor trains, which seem especially vulnerable?

Mr. Bevins

I entirely agree with what my hon. Friend says, and we have certain measures under way at the moment to deal with the situation.