HC Deb 15 October 1946 vol 427 cc781-2
44. Mr. Sidney Shephard

asked the Secretary of State for War how many tons of redundant ammunition have been destroyed or disposed of each month since January, 1946.

Mr. Bellenger

I will circulate the detailed figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The total for the nine months ended 30th September was about 279,000 tons.

Mr. Shephard

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how much still remains to be destroyed?

Mr. Bellenger

Not without notice.

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

Does the information include the areas where ammunition has been removed or destroyed?

Mr. Bellenger

The statement I am circulating gives the figures only for months. It would entail a good deal of extra work at the War Office to give the figures asked for. Unless the hon. and gallant Member particularly wants them, I would rather he left the answer as I have given it.

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

As my constituency and that of the hon. Member for West Perth (Mr. Snadden) have hundreds of thousands of tons of this ammunition we are particularly interested.

Mr. Bellenger

I will see what I can do to help.

Mr. Stephen

Will the Minister arrange that some of the ammunition is shifted to some of the beauty spots in England for a change?

Following are the figures:

1946: Approximate tonnage.
January … … … 24,000
February … … … 25,000
March … … … 38,000
April … … … 38,000
May … … … 43,000
June … … … 39,000
July … … … 32,000
August … … … 21,000
September … … … 19,000