Early Day Motion·EDM 537

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE DIPLOMATIC BAG SERVICE

18 January 2005114 Signatures

Primary sponsor

John McDonnell

Labour — Hayes and Harlington

Motion Text

That this House notes with great concern recent press reports which indicate that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is planning to privatise the Diplomatic Bag Service; considers that this will place the security of documents sent by the Government at greater risk of unauthorised access; believes in these times of heightened national security that the public sector has a proven track record of delivering an effective efficient service; and urges the Government to reconsider seriously this proposal and abandon all plans to hand over control of the Diplomatic Bag Service to the private sector.