§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by what means ministerial boxes are conveyed from private offices in his Department to(a) himself and (b) his fellow Ministers; how frequently and at what expense private courier firms are employed for such a task; and which courier firms have been used for such duties. [36277]
§ Dr. John ReidMinisterial boxes originating from the NIO are transported to the Secretary of State's and Ministers' homes either by Government car or by a service provided by the Royal Mail.
259WOccasionally, these boxes are transported to the Secretary of State and Ministers' constituencies by a private courier firm using competitive rates. For security reasons, it would not be appropriate to disclose the name of the private courier firm.