HC Deb 29 April 1969 vol 782 cc196-7W
Mr. Oakes

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) where the premises of the Queen's Warehouse are at present situated; and how many staff are employed in this Department;

(2) what was the total value of goods received into the Queen's Warehouse in the last three financial years; and how these goods were disposed of and for what price;

(3) whether drugs or other dangerous substances are held at present in the Queen's Warehouse; how such goods are to be disposed of; and if he will make a statement;

(4) what was the source of a quantity of the drug mepromate recently disposed of at a public auction; what was its market value; when and why it was held in the Queen's Warehouse; and for what price it was sold;

(5) what reports are made to the police of goods received into the Queen's Warehouse; and if the recent disposal of the drug mepromate at a public auction was notified to the police.

Mr. Harold Lever

There are Queen's Warehouses, 50 in all, at most ports: they employ the equivalent of about 80 full-time staff Figures showing the value of goods received into Queen's Warehouses in recent years are not available. Such goods, including drugs, are ordinarily disposed of by return to the owner, by sale by tender, or by destruction, according to the circumstances. Receipts—exclusive of any duty or Purchase Tax—from sales in recent financial years have been as follows:

1965–66 1966–67 1967–68
£99,341 £90,107 £83,390

The meprobamate in question was deposited in Queen's Warehouse in May, 1968, because entry was not made after importation in November, 1967. It was

Return on Capital(1) Net Income at Current Prices(2) Net Income at Constant Prices(3)
Per cent. £m. £m.
British Railways Board
1965 -3.7 -71.2 -75.5
1966 -3.6 -70.2 -71.8
1967 -4.4 -86.2 -86.2
British Transport Docks Board
1965 4.9 4.5 4.8
1966 5.3 5.1 5.2
1966 5.5 5.3 5.3
British Waterways Board
1965 -4.5 -0.6 -0.6
1966 -4.5 -0.6 -0.6
1967 -3.4 -0.5 -0.5
Transport Holding Company
1965 10.9 17.7 18.8
1966 8.2 14.5 14.8
1967 5.5 10.4 10.4
British Overseas Airways Corporation
1965–66 9.6 11.7 12.5
1966–67 21.7 29.0 29.6
1967–68 17.1 25.3 25.3
Note: The figures are on a calendar year for the first four bodies and on a financial year basis for BOAC.