HC Deb 28 February 1956 vol 549 cc103-4W
84. Mr. Dodds

asked the Secretary of State for War how many gallons of paint have recently been offered for sale by auction by his Department; what steps were previously taken to ascertain the needs of other Government Departments; what quantity had been taken into stock after 1st January, 1955; how much has been sold; how the auction proceeds compare with the purchase price; and the reason for this large surplus of high-grade paint of popular colours.

TRAINING AREAS, RANGES AND TRAINING RIGHTS, 1939 AND 1956
Command 31st January, 1956 31st December, 1939
Freehold Leasehold Training rights Total Freehold Leasehold Training rights Total
Northern … 95,000 3,000 14,500 112,500 35,500 1,000 — 36,500
Southern … 98,500 2,500 24,000 125,000 96,500 2,000 18,000 116,500
Eastern … 23,500 2,000 14,000 39,500 12,500 2,000 11,500 26,000
Western … 46,000 1,000 1,500 48,500 9,000 500 — 9,500
Scotland … 35,000 500 2,500 38,000 9,500 1,000 — 10,500
Northern Ireland District 1,000 2,000 — 3,000 1,000 1,000 — 2,000
Total … 299,000 11,000 56,500 366,500 164,000 7,500 29,500 201,000

Mr. F. Maclean

38,032 gallons of paint and 14 tons of dry paint were put up for sale and all but 6,900 gallons were sold. The catalogues of the items for auction were circulated to other Government Departments before the sale. The original cost of the paint sold was £26,046 and the proceeds of the auction were £13,400. Paint and dry paint equivalent to about 1,100,000 gallons have been taken into stock since 1st January, 1955. Most of this was ordered during 1953 or early in 1954.

The Army's requirement for paint has recently been considerably reduced for several reasons, the principal of which are the abolition of Anti-Aircraft Command, redeployment in the Middle East, the reduction of forces in Korea and Kenya and the reduction and re-organisation of the Reserve Army. Because of the time lag between ordering and delivery these reduced requirements could not be foreseen at the time orders were placed. Sufficient stocks of all types of paint needed are being retained to meet future requirements, and this and other surpluses are being disposed of while they are still in a saleable condition. Paint has a short shelf-life, and deteriorates in a few years.