§ Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total value of obsolete military equipment sold in each of the last three years; and how the sums received compare with the purchase prices of the equipment.
§ Dr. GilbertThe receipts from sales of equipment and stores surplus to the requirements of all three Services during the last three financial years were:
£ million 1974–75 12.75 1975–76 14.80 1976–77 19.30 The majority of items sold were old and at the end of their useful life with the Services. It is not practicable to give any comparison between these sales receipts and the purchase prices of the equipment.
§ Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the total obsolete military equipment sold in each of the last three years has been sold at home; and what percentage abroad, and to which countries. 636W Northern Ireland by Defence Ministers, Back-Bench Members of the Parliamentary Labour Party and Members of the Parliamentary Liberal Party in 1977.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Defence, visited the Armed Forces in Northern Ireland on 22nd July and 25th February 1977 respectively and I made visits on 16th March, 14th-15th July and 21st December. The following Back Bench Members of the Parliamentary Labour Party also made visits:
§ Dr. GilbertExpressed as percentages of receipts from sales of equipment and stores surplus to the requirements of all three Services the figures are:
At Home approximate percentage Abroad approximate percentage 1974–75 82 18 1975–76 74 26 1976–77 67 33 The sales at home were made to commercial firms. Sales abroad include those made direct to overseas Governments and those made from British forces based overseas to commercial firms. It is not the practice to identify overseas Governments to which sales are made.
§ Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the military equipment which has become obsolete in each of the last three years was sold (a) for military use, (b) for civil use, and (c) for scrap; and what percentage was scrapped without reimbursement.
§ Dr. GilbertExpressed as percentages of receipts from sales of equipment and stores surplus to the requirements of all three Services the figures are:
637W
1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 Per cent Military use 6 10 18 Civil use 63 73 64 Scrap 31 17 18 Only items of equipment and stores unsafe to sell, such as unservicable ammunition, drugs and chemicals and those which do not attract buyers are scrapped without reimbursement. It would not be practicable to make a precise assessment of the percentage of the total disposals represented by this category.