§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Postmaster-General what progress has been made in carrying out his proposal to install 80 protective screens a week in post offices; if he will make a statement about recent injuries to staff; and what are his future plans to deal with raids on post offices.
§ Mr. Stonehouse:Present plans are to install barriers to give better protection to staff at about 360 Crown Offices in the London area. Nearly 200 have been, or are being, installed already and the programme should be completed early in the New Year. In the nine attacks made on Crown Offices in London this year eight staff have been injured, two seriously. As to the future, a permanent type of screen is being developed for installation as necessary at Crown Offices.
For sub-offices, we are making available a Post Office designed screen on a 421W cost-sharing basis. 4,000 of these screens have now been ordered by sub-postmasters and installation will start shortly.