Arms and Stores (Inventories) (Hansard, 13 June 1956)

§ 2. Mr. Shinwell
asked the Minister of Defence whether his Department has an inventory of all arms and stores in the defence Services and the Ministry of Supply.

§ Sir W. Monckton
No, Sir. The keeping of such detailed inventories seems more appropriate to Departmental housekeeping than to central control of policy.

§ Mr. Shinwell
Can we be assured that the three Service Departments and the Ministry of Supply have an inventory of all goods in their possession? How is it possible to determine whether further purchases should be made for the Service Departments and the Ministry of Supply until we know what they already have? Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman give his attention to the matter?

§ Sir W. Monckton
I am giving attention to the matter. I am sure the right hon. Gentleman will remember that an inquiry was conducted by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury about some of the spendings and purchases which were complained of. One of the things which my right hon. Friend suggested was that my Ministry should investigate the machinery of procurement and provisioning in the Service Departments in order to ensure that they do not hold stocks larger than they need, and also that decisions are passed swiftly down the line, so that the Army, for instance, does not buy stores for a particular unit after a decision to disband it has been taken. That is an illustration. I have taken that suggestion in hand, and there is in progress an inter-Service working party under Ministry of Defence chairmanship.

§ Mr. Stokes
Is it not a fact that a considerable amount of manpower is wasted in looking after all these stores which are virtually in moth-balls and which probably would not be brought out even if there was a war? How does the Minister propose to assist in the matter of manpower requirements for the three Services unles he has adequate knowledge at his disposal as to how much manpower is being used in moth-balling?

§ Sir W. Monckton
It would involve an enormous addition to expense if I were to require an inventory in the Ministry of each one of the items. I am well aware of the necessity of reducing and getting rid, under the terms of this remit to me of any unnecessary storage and maintenance cost, and I intend to pursue that.