HC Deb 27 March 1957 vol 567 cc1139-40
37. Mr. Dodds

asked the Secretary of State for Air what opportunity was given to airmen to purchase surplus safety razor blades before nearly 8,000,000 were offered and sold at public auction sales since 1st January, 1955, at an average price of eight blades a penny.

Mr. Ward

None, Sir. The blades did not come from Air Ministry stocks, which are limited to a small number of blades needed for survival packs.

Mr. Dodds

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the previous Prime Minister set up a high-powered committee to ensure that no goods would be sold by public auction unless they had

Mr. Ward

Of course there are wing commanders who command wings and flight lieutenants who command flights, although it is not general throughout the Service.

Mr. Shinwell

While we are waiting for the figures which are to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT, can the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether, in his opinion, there are too many or too few high-ranking officers in the Royal Air Force and at the Air Ministry?

Mr. Ward

I can tell the right hon. Gentleman that we are having a special review of all air ranks. However, we have to take account of commitments other than our own. We must remember that about 10 per cent. of officers of these ranks are filling posts in, for instance, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Supply, N.A.T.O., and Commonwealth Air Forces.

Following is the answer:

first been offered to other Departments? Is he saying in this case that so quickly after that decision was taken the Ministry of Supply failed to offer the razor blades to his Department? If the Ministry of Supply had done so, would the right hon. Gentleman have ensured that airmen had an opportunity of getting a cheap line?

Mr. Ward

That is a hypothetical question.