HC Deb 01 December 1994 vol 250 cc898-9W
Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of each type of armoured personnel carrier and light tank surplus to his Department's requirements have been or are to be sold in the 1994–95 financial year.

Mr. Freeman

The information requested is as follows:

Vehicle Type Quantity
CENTURION Armoured Recovery Vehicle MK2 54
HUMBER 1 TON PIG Armoured Personnel Carrier 109
CHIEFTAIN Main Battle Tank MK10 29
CHIEFTAIN Armoured Vehicle Recce 1
ABBOT 105mm Self Propelled Gun 15
SULTAN Armoured Command Vehicle 17
FOX 30 mm Gunned Combat Vehicle Recce (Wheeled) 2
SCORPION 76mm Gunned Combat Recce (Tracked) 40
FERRET Scout Car 35
SARACEN Armoured Personnel Carrier (Wheeled) 16
432 Armoured Personnel Carrier 78
SALADIN 76mm Gunned Armoured Car 1
434 Tracked Engineer Support Vehicle 8
M109 GUNS 155mm Self Propelled Howitzer 117

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to whom, and under what procedure, armoured personnel carriers and light tanks surplus to his Department's requirements have been sold since 1985; and what financial gain has resulted for Her Majesty's Government.

Mr. Freeman

The Disposals Sales Agency as a general rule sells surplus armoured fighting vehicles, of all types, by invitation to tender. Occasionally, private treaty sales have been agreed, normally to collectors/museums or companies involved in refurbishment and update work aiming to sell similar vehicles overseas. More recently, vehicles have been sold to companies for smelting. Sales to acceptable foreign Governments are either by direct contract or through an agent accredited to the purchaser. Any vehicle which is to be exported requires an export licence from the Department of Trade and Industry. Vehicles which have ordnance fitted are either demilitarised prior to sale or sold to companies which intend to market them for export and have appropriate firearms licences.

Details of financial gain to HMG would require disproportionate effort to establish as previous records are not readily available. It is not our policy to reveal the details of purchasers without their written permission.