§ Mr. McKelveyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Strathclyde on the cost to public funds of the escorting by police on the morning of Monday 23 March, of a van carrying letters intended for the Inland Revenue Cumbernauld accounts office from the Glasgow central post office; and how many police, and how many cars were involved.
§ Mr. RifkindI see no need to do so. I understand that, following a complaint about alleged harassment of an Inland Revenue vehicle, a police presence, involving at any one time not more than one car with two police officers on traffic patrol duties, was provided to monitor the passage of the vehicle and to ensure that no danger to road users would arise.