§ Mr. RostTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, by item and value, surplus stocks of clothing and other non-armament and weapon materials currently or recently ordered to be destroyed rather than offered for public sale.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonAs part of the fight against terrorism all surplus clothing with the exception of non-camouflage foul weather gear and footwear is now mutilated and sold as rags. Annual receipts are about £50,000. We estimate that the market value of the clothing before mutilation would be about £700,000 per annum.
In compliance with health and safety and control of pollution legislation the majority of hazardous materials are also destroyed, although under guidelines specified by the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities some materials classed as hazardous are sold.
It would not be possible to give the detailed information requested without disproportionate cost.