HC Deb 18 March 1957 vol 567 cc16-7
27. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Supply what was the number of razor blades sold by public auction since 1st January, 1955; how many blades were offered in each lot up for sale; and what was the average price realised per blade.

Mr. W. J. Taylor

Since 1st January, 1955, 7,513,580 razor blades have been sold for £3,680, approximately one-eighth of a penny per blade. The blades were offered in lots varying in size from 6,080 to 500,000.

Mr. Dodds

Will the Minister explain why razor blades were held for such a long time and were not offered to the Service men at a price that they could afford to pay, and will he also explain why these razor blades have got to be sold in half-million lots to racketeers who make big money out of this disgraceful procedure?

Mr. Taylor

It seems to me that the first part of that question should be addressed to the Service Departments. My Department can deal only with the question of the disposal of surplus material which is made available to my Department for disposal.

Mr. Osborne

As a very hard-headed Yorkshire business man, will my hon. Friend look into these sales with the same care with which he looks into his own business and see whether he can get better prices?

Mr. Taylor

As I said in reply to a Question last week, there is only one effective way of dealing with this matter, and that is to sell the surplus goods by auction. The alternative method would be to sell by tender, which would involve increasing the number of people engaged in this work, and I do not think that would be desired. There is no evidence of any "rigging" in this matter. Steps are taken to combat rings, but it would defeat the object if I gave details.

Mr. Shinwell

When the Service Departments make available to the Ministry of Supply material of this kind, has it occurred to the Minister of Supply, who is present and who perhaps would care to answer this question, that he might advise the Service Departments to make available to the men in the Services these razor blades and other useful material at cheap prices?

Mr. Taylor

The remarks of the right hon. Gentleman will be noted by the Departments concerned.

Mr. J. Griffiths

Will the Minister recall that some time ago the Prime Minister, no doubt disturbed as we all are by the Questions put by my hon. Friend the Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Dodds) and the implications in those Questions. promised to make a review of this matter? Is that review still continuing, and when may we expect an answer?

Mr. Taylor

No undertaking has been given to make a review. What I said last week was that I would look into the system under which these goods were sold, but I did not hold out any promise at that time that there would be any material alteration in the present method.

Mr. Griffiths

I think that I am within the recollection of the House. Does not the hon. Gentleman recall that the Prime Minister said that he would consult his colleagues in the appropriate Departments to examine this matter? May I ask the Minister concerned, as the head of the Department, whether that investigation by the Prime Minister is continuing, and, if so, when we may expect a statement from him or from the Prime Minister on the matter?

Mr. Taylor

That seems to me to be a question of which we should be given notice.