§ 1. Mr. D. Jonesasked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission to ensure greater security for mail on all its trains.
§ The Minister of Transport (Mr. Ernest Marples)No, Sir. The British Transport Commission is co-operating fully with the Post Office in measures for the security of mails on trains.
§ Mr. JonesWhile thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask him if he can be a little more specific and say what the provisions are?
§ Mr. MarplesI think not. Whilst I should like to tell the House what they are, if I did so I should be telling the thieves as well.
§ Mr. W. R. WilliamsIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the concern of my hon. Friend in this matter is shared by many hon. Members who are disturbed by the sight of large consignments of mail lying around platforms at imporant railway termini ostensibly with no supervision at all? With his experience of the Post Office, will the Minister see what he can do to improve the security methods?
§ Mr. MarplesI will certainly see what can be done to improve them. As I said in my original Answer, the difficulty is that if I give the information to the House I shall, in effect, through the newspapers, explain to the thieves what precautions we are taking, and it would be very much better if they did not know what the precautions are.