HC Deb 13 February 1957 vol 564 cc1267-8
56. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will direct the Service Departments and the Ministry of Supply to prepare an inventory of all the stores, equipment, and weapons in their possession.

Mr. Sandys

The Services hold regular stocktakings of their equipment. The problem, as the Select Committee on Estimates has stated in its Third Report of the 1956–57 Session, just published, is to ensure that changes in policy are reflected as quickly as possible by changes in holdings. This matter is receiving my attention.

Mr. Shinwell

Will the right hon. Gentleman now answer the Question? Will he direct the Service Departments and the Ministry of Supply to find out what they have got? Is it not desirable that they should know what they have got before they buy anything else?

Mr. Sandys

An inter-Departmental committee is now examining certain aspects of this problem. Until I receive its report, I do not think it would be right for me to decide on any special action.

Mr. Shinwell

Will the right hon. Gentleman make it quite clear that whenever he gets the information for which he is asking from the Service Departments and the Ministry of Supply, he will see that they have an inventory of everything in their possession?

Mr. Sandys

The fact that the right hon. Gentleman has raised the point will ensure that it receives my very close attention.

Mr. Woodburn

Will the right hon. Gentleman look at the specifications of the material that is being held? During the war, it was discovered by the Select Committee that the Army was still ordering wood-burning stoves that were used in the South African War, and that the specification had never been changed.

Mr. Sandys

I did not know about that.