§ 124. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Supply if he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures showing, for each of the years since 1945, the number of employees engaged in disposing of Government surplus war material; the cost of administration of this division, including the wage and salary bill of the staffs involved; and when he anticipates winding up this section of his Department.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesI would refer the hon. Member to the information given in the Estimates for the years in question. Disposable surpluses are still coming forward and so long as they do I consider it would be wrong to wind up this section of my Department.
§ 125. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Supply the initial cost to the Government of the purchase of the war material which was subsequently sold by his Department since 1945 for approximately £790 million; and what was the net loss to Her 137W Majesty's Goverment after taking account of the 5 per cent. costs involved in arranging for these auction sales.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesIt would be impossible to ascertain the original cost of all the surplus war material sold by the Ministry of Supply at home and abroad since 1945.
§ Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Supply how much per annum he estimates could be saved by his Department by the winding-up of the division which deals with the disposal of Government war surplus supplies and stores, etc.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesNothing would be saved by winding up a branch whose work is bringing in about £14 million a year as well as saving the Services the cost of looking after stores which they no longer need.