§ Sir B. Neven-Spenceasked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production what general instructions have been issued by his Department regarding material and stores that may be scrapped or destroyed; what precautions are taken to see that these instructions are strictly carried out; and what control his Department has over the scrapping and destruction undertaken by the Service Departments.
§ Mr. WoodburnDepartmental instructions have been issued laying down the procedure to be followed in taking decisions to scrap, and determining the levels at which such decisions should be taken. Decisions to scrap goods involving substantial sums of public money are taken by senior officials, advised as necessary by technical officers. The main precaution on which the; Department relies for the proper implementation of scrapping instructions is the execution of the work for the most part in Government depots and establishments where the operation can be kept under direct and constant supervision. If this is not possible, the work is placed with private contractors, on an agency basis, to avoid the risks involved in outright sales for scrapping on1268W which it is not possible to impose any effective check. The Service Departments have no authority to scrap any stores for which the Ministry of Supply and Aircraft Production is the responsible disposal Department, without its approval, and any scrapping of such stores which they undertake is, therefore, done in the capacity of agents. The actual execution by the Services of any instructions which may be given is controlled by the appropriate Service Department.