HC Deb 17 April 1951 vol 486 cc1656-7
35. Mr. Low

asked the Secretary of State for War what equipment the War Department vessel "Snider" has dumped in Hurds Deep off the Channel Isles in March; and whether he will make a statement about the equipment being dumped in this and other areas since 1945.

Mr. Strachey

The "Snider" is an Admiralty vessel. I understand that during March she dumped 25 tons of unserviceable ammunition in Hurds Deep. Since 1945 the War Department has made arrangements on its own behalf and on the behalf of the Air Ministry and the Ministry of Supply for dumping 400,000 tons of German ammunition in Hurds Deep; 100,000 tons of chemical weapons in the Atlantic; and over 400,000 tons of unserviceable ammunition in Beau-forts Dyke, Mull of Galloway. The first two operations were completed in 1946 and 1949 respectively. Further quantities of ammunition still remain to be disposed of by the War Department in the Mull of Galloway.

Mr. Low

Is the right hon. Gentleman quite certain that nothing other than ammunition has been dumped by this ship? Is he quite satisfied that the ammunition could not be made use of for scrap of any kind whatsoever?

Mr. Strachey

In reply to the first part of the question, I cannot say what other use the Admiralty may have made of the "Snider." We are perfectly satisfied that those weapons which have been dumped on our behalf were useless to us.

Brigadier Prior-Palmer

Could the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that none of the shells and casings of this ammunition were of any value for scrap purposes, and in the situation in which we are, with a shortage of raw materials, surely it is ridiculous to dump enormous quantities such as these?

Mr. Strachey

A great deal of ammunition has been reclaimed and broken down for scrap, and it has been carefully gone into in each case whether it was worth while to do it. The surplus ammunition has been separated into that which was worth while to recover and that which was not.

Mr. Fernyhough

Could my right hon. Friend give us any idea of the original cost of this ammunition which has now been dumped in the sea?

Mr. Strachey

No.

Mr. Low

Would the right hon. Gentleman have another look into it now? [An HON. MEMBER: "He will need a diver's suit."] Although he may have been right two or three years ago not to go to the extra expense of trying to get scrap from this ammunition, have not conditions now changed so that it may be worth while again?

Mr. Strachey

I quite agree, but it is too late to do anything in respect of this ammunition. There is further ammunition, and if the balance of advantage does change, that certainly will be kept under review.