asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the recent theft in London of 1,330,000 cigarettes; and what action has been taken in the matter?

I have made inquiry and find that the facts are as follow: The truck and its contents were stolen at 6 p.m. on 13th June. The truck was found abandoned the next day at 9 a.m., and by 2.30 p.m. on that day the whole of the cigarettes, with the exception of 5,000, were recovered, and an arrest had been made. I understand that the case is now the subject of court proceedings.

Does my right hon. Friend recall that I suggested last week that a hefty woman should accompany drivers of such lorries? Surely there are enough women in this country to accompany food lorries and lorries containing tobacco? Will he not consider some method by which these recurrent thefts can be stopped?

It is a matter of relativity. Hefty ladies are exceedingly valuable in other ways, and it is a question where they would be most useful in relation to the risks involved. I will consider the point, but I am not sure that it is primarily a matter for me. In this case, I think the House will agree, the police evidently did a pretty smart piece of work.