§ 78. Mr. Snaddenasked the Secretary of State for War the tonnage, by categories and types, of ammunition and explosives removed from the depot in Perthshire since 1st September, 1946; the amount of each category received into the depot in the same period; and the present rate of removal in tons weekly.
§ Mr. BellengerI am having the figures prepared and will send them to the hon. Member as soon as they are ready.
§ Mr. SnaddenIs the Minister aware that there is grave dissatisfaction at the slow rate of progress, and would he expedite this?
§ Mr. BellengerPerhaps the hon. Gentleman would wait until he sees the figures.
§ 79. Mr. Snaddenasked the Secretary of State for War what measures are in force in each area of the ammunition depot in Perthshire for guarding the ammunition dumps therein by day and by night on week-days and at week-ends; what further measures are proposed to provide the additional protection required by the presence later in the year of hikers, cyclists, picnic parties and holidaymakers in general; and what special precautions are taken to prevent the illicit removal of gelignite or other explosive.
§ Mr. BellengerTwenty military personnel are on the average employed on guard duty each day, assisted by 12 civilian watchmen. There are no additional precautions at week-ends during the winter months, but as the hours of daylight lengthen, and improvements in the weather allows hikers and holiday makers to visit the area, the number of guards will be increased on the lines I explained td the hon. Member on 25th June. Such items as gelignite are concentrated into the areas which can be more readily guarded.
§ Mr. SnaddenIs there not a great danger in not having a guard or patrol on Sundays during the winter?
§ Mr. BellengerWe are doing our best, not only in this area, but in other areas, but there is a limitation to the manpower at our disposal.
§ Mr. Henry StraussDoes "20 military personnel" mean "20 soldiers"?