THE EARL OF MANSFIELDasked His Majesty's Government whether they are aware that large quantities of ammunition 673WA and other high explosives are still stored in West Perthshire in practically open huts, and that there have been numerous thefts from these stores, whereby the lives of children and other persons have been endangered; and whether they will state why the policy is not to remove those explosives in the first place from the more easily accessible sites, where there detonation would have disastrous effects, rather than from remote valleys.
§ THE MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION (Lord Nathan)67,000 tons of ammunition are now stored in West Perthshire in corrugated iron field service shelters compared with 176,000 tons held there when the war in Europe ended.
The danger of interfering with the stores has been emphasized to the public by wireless talks, and notices and warning talks are given to children at school.
Stocks are being reduced as rapidly as man-power, transport and safety considerations allow. Priority of clearance is given to those areas which are more 674WA populated or where the ammunition is stored mainly along public roads or on agricultural land.
THE EARL OF MANSFIELDasked His Majesty's Government whether they are aware that, despite the fact that Row House, Dunblane, and other buildings on the same property were considerably damaged by the explosion of ammunition which took place in the vicinity some two years ago, there is still a large quantity of explosives stored in the grounds of Row House, in close proximity to the House itself; and whether they will take immediate steps to have this menace to life and property removed forthwith
§ LORD NATHANThe amount of ammunition stored at Row House, Dunblane was 28 tons. The owner wrote to the War Department on 1st January asking for the ammunition to be removed and this was done by the 13th January.
House adjourned at five minutes before five o'clock.