§ 37. Mr. Langford-Holtasked the Minister of Works how many hospital and other beds have been sold by his Department for scrap; how many have been sold to firms for resale as beds; and what types of firms are notified of the forthcoming sales of such beds.
§ Mr. KeyAs regards the first part of the Question, metal bedsteads which have been condemned as beyond repair are reported by my Department to the Ministry of Supply for disposal as scrap. Figures of the numbers so reported are not available. Including small lots sold with other material at public auctions, my Department has sold about 150,000 metal bedsteads and 50,000 wooden folding camp-beds. Public auctions are advertised in the Press. In other instances competitive tenders are invited from firms likely to be interested, notably members of the appropriate trade associations.