§ 3.5 p.m.
§ LORD GISBOROUGHMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) how many motor vehicles were reported stolen from the vicinity of railway stations over the last year;
§ (2) how many stolen vehicles were found abandoned in or around Service camps, and of these how many had been reported stolen from railway stations.]
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I regret that the information required is not available.
§ LORD GISBOROUGHMy Lords, I can understand that. But is the noble Lord aware that at the main-line stations—and Darlington, perhaps, is a good example—there are no adequate parking facilities for those who may be going away for two or three days and who wish to leave their cars at the stations? Motorists are charged a shilling for parking, but their cars are not looked after. The other day mine was stolen within two hours of my leaving it there. Are there plans afoot for improving parking facilities at these main-line stations? When I reported my loss to the police, I was told that my car would probably turn up at one of the Army camps. Sure enough, it was found abandoned at a camp near Barnard Castle; and I was told that a bus had been taken away and found in one of these camps.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS (THE EARL OF HOME)My Lords, may I remind my noble friend that he is asking a question, and his remarks should not be longer than necessary to put the question?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I think that the matter referred to by my noble friend does not strictly arise on this Question. If he would like to put down a further Question on the subject, I should be delighted to answer it.