§ Mr. Wootton-Daviesasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether his attention has been called to the thefts from outward bound cargoes; and what attempts are made to trace where these take place?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerYes, Sir, I regret to say that thieving from cargoes, both inward and outward bound, has increased since the beginning of the war. My hon. Friend will understand that the blackout, the shortage of packing materials, and the shortage of man-power have all added to the difficulties of preventing such theft; but I can assure him that the police, the dock authorities, and the railways are acting in close co-operation, and are doing everything in their power to trace and to stamp out what must be regarded as a despicable sabotage of the national war effort.