§ Mr. Nottasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the five main functions of the Ordnance Board, Kensington, together with the number of staff employed by the Board and the total cost of the Board during the current financial year.
§ Mr. BoydenIt is not possible to break down the work of the Ordnance Board into five main functions. The Ordnance Board is an Inter-Service advisory organisation working independently but under the overall direction of the Ministry of Defence and Mintech. It is responsible for the technical trials and appraisal of weapons and weapon systems in which explosives are used, with particular reference to their safety and suitability for service under all environmental conditions, including transport, storage, and use in all climates. The Board also advises on questions of safety at ranges used for training.
The Board covers all three Services and its work on behalf of the development agencies, including the departments of the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Technology and other authorities, extends from small arms, and their ammunition, to Polaris missiles.
The staff currently employed number 119, including officers from the three Services and the Scientific Civil Service. The 39W estimated cost of the organisation for the current financial year, excluding the cost of the stores and ammunition used in trials, is some £400,000.