§ 2.44 p.m.
§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELMy Lords, I beg to ask Her Majesty's Government the following Question, of which I have given private notice: Whether, in view of the general disquiet caused by recent mail bag robberies, they have any statement to make.
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (EARL DE LA WARR)My Lords, the noble Earl has spoken of the public concern about the recent mail robberies. Neither he nor the public can be more concerned than the Post Office itself. I thank him warmly for this opportunity that he has given me, both to try to put the question in right perspective and to say in general terms what steps are being taken to meet a very real and very grave problem.
It is true to say that these robberies are only one aspect of what some would describe as a general increase of lawlessness; hardly a day passes when we do not read of some new outrage against law and order from which the whole public are suffering. In spite of all this, Post Office losses have, up till now, been very much reduced since 1945. In that year, for instance, the number of inland registered letters and parcels lost from all causes, both internal and external, was 14,500, out of a total of some 142,000,000. The corresponding figure for 1951 was 8,000, out of about the same number of items. Our current losses of mail bags from all causes now average under two per million. The total recorded loss of currency out of mail bags for the last twelve months amounts to £290,000. This figure includes the alarming and, I sincerely trust, abnormal loss of £240,000 in the robbery of the 21st May in Central London.
It is not, of course, for the Post Office, or indeed for any other organisation, to take upon itself the task of maintaining law and order, or the apprehension of criminals. That is, and must remain, the duty of the police, aided in their work by the determination of the courts to impose adequate sentences on criminals when they are convicted. But subject only to this qualification, it is very definitely the responsibility of the Post Office to see that its security arrangements are such as to prevent in every possible 620 way the loss of mail entrusted to its charge.
Until the last few months our arrangements, based as they were, on the assumption that this was a fundamentally law-abiding country, have been not only adequate but steadily improving in their effectiveness. It has become clear, however, from recent incidents that these arrangements, however effective in the past, are not adequate to meet present-day circumstances, including what was, in effect, highway robbery with violence in the streets of Central London by men who undoubtedly possessed at least some inner knowledge of the Post Office machine. Since that time our security arrangements for dealing with packets of high value have been very considerably strengthened and the process is continuing—but the House must not press me to say precisely what precautions we have already introduced, or what are going to be introduced in the near future.
In addition to tightening up our own Post Office machine we are working in very close co-operation with the railway authorities, who are solely responsible, under contract, for all mails committed to their charge; and also we are working in the closest co-operation with the police. While there is almost always scope in changing circumstances for improving joint working arrangements. I should like to stress that there is no justification whatsoever for any suggestion that there is friction between Scotland Yard and the Post Office. On the contrary the two departments and the Home Office are in constant consultation and are working together very closely and very happily. I ask the House to accept my firm assurance on this point.
The recent mail losses may, as I have already said, be part of a general problem of security and law and order. I, of course, can speak only about the Post Office side of that problem, but I do assure your Lordships that it is being tackled with a real sense of gravity and urgency on our part. I cannot, of course, possibly promise that our efforts will have immediate or spectacular results. I do, however, promise that we—and I say "we" advisedly, in that I speak here for Post Office workers and staff at every level—feel this challenge very deeply. Since taking over the Post Office, I have come to learn what a magnificent esprit de corps and pride of public service exists 621 in that great organisation. Every loss of mail is a direct blow to that pride. I can assure you, on behalf of the whole Post Office staff, that its firm determination is to do all that it humanly can to fulfil its fine and centuries old traditional task of ensuring the security of Her Majesty's mails.
§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELMy Lords, in thanking the noble Earl opposite for his extremely reassuring reply, and as one who has had a very happy association with the Post Office, may I say how glad I am that the excellent and improving record of the Post Office staff has been shown in what the noble Earl has said? I am also glad—and I am sure the public will share my relief—to hear that better security arrangements will be made. I trust that this will prevent a repetition of the serious type of robbery such as that which occurred this year in London.