§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to improve stock-taking procedures in the armed forces with a system of bar coding; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeubertThe Comptroller and Auditor General's report on stocktaking in the MOD was published on 1 November 1988 and included observations on the use of bar coding.
The accounting officer, Sir Michael Quinlan, will be giving evidence to the Public Accounts Committee on the contents of the report in due course. Once the PAC has produced its report, the Government's formal response will be given in a Treasury minute, which is in accordance with usual practice.