9. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Supply whether, in connection with the supplies stored in the open, consisting of hospital stores worth £1,000,000, X-ray apparatus and operating theatres and drugs which are at present lying in Nissen huts at Honeybourne, Worcestershire, he will state the quantity and value of the drugs and other supplies which have now become time expired and will have to be scrapped.
§ Mr. WilmotAs regards the hospital and medical equipment, the quantity which cannot be put to good use will be very small, and drugs constitute only a small proportion of the total. The latter are in process of being moved for inspection elsewhere and the exact figures asked for by the hon. Member are not, therefore, available.
Mr. De la BèreDid not the Minister tell the House in the last month that there were large quantities which have now become time-expired, and why is it that nothing was done for nearly 10 months before distribution took place? This is a very grave scandal.
§ Mr. WilmotAs I explained to the hon. Member the other day, these are American surpluses which were declared in very large quantities, and the supply of labour for the necessary sorting out of large quantities of small packages of drugs has not been available.
Mr. De la BèreAre not these supplies urgently needed and invaluable, and will not the Minister do something about it? It is a shocking scandal.