§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what conditions tanks, armoured personnel carriers and mobile guns are sold to private individuals and dealers; and how many have been sold in each of the past five years. [12200]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotCurrent practice is to scrap surplus tanks and armoured personnel carriers. A limited number have been sold recently in a restricted access auction. Mobile guns are not now sold to individuals and dealers, and the majority of declarations have been the subject of a Government-to-Government sale. Previously, armoured vehicles have been sold by invitation to tender to approved individuals and traders, including collectors and museums; to UK defence companies; or they have been scrapped.
Where fighting vehicles normally carry armaments of any sort, the status of the final user will determine whether the vehicle is deactivated or not. Only those individuals or companies, including scrap dealers in the UK, who hold an appropriate licence under the Firearms Act 1968 may receive an active vehicle. Otherwise, the vehicles are demilitarised, (and officially certified or confirmed as such) in such a way as to render their ordnance unserviceable or inoperative—by barrel slotting, breach cutting/welding etc. The acquisition of parts which are essential to a weapon being fully operative are themselves the subject of the Firearms Act and current departmental policy is not to offer them for sale within the UK. Vehicles sold on the express condition that they are to be broken up or smelted are subject to confirmation that this has been done.
Buyers of MOD's vehicles for other purposes are required to formally seek my Department's permission before on-selling.
The following quantities of vehicles have been sold in the last five years:
- 1991: 15
- 1992: 205
- 1993: 403
- 1994: 583
- 1995: 758
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what precautions his Department takes to ensure that surplus tanks, armoured personnel carriers and mobile guns sold to dealers and the public are not used for criminal or other anti-social acts. [12202]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotThe sales process requires either deactivation of residual ordnance or production of an appropriate firearms licence. After-sale responsibility lies with the purchaser to observe the law concerning ownership and use of the vehicle.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average original cost of(a) tanks. (b) armoured personnel carriers and (c) mobile guns sold by the services in each of the past five years; and what was the average price for which they were sold. [12201]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotVehicles declared for disposal have been in service for many years and records of original costs have been destroyed. Prices achieved depend on 469W market forces. It is not MOD's policy to reveal individual prices achieved. The value of receipts for armoured vehicles and guns for each of the five years is:
Number £ 1991 15 16,250 1992 205 255,685 1993 403 390,477 1994 583 4,384,079 1995 758 984,523