HC Deb 27 March 1995 vol 257 cc499-502W
Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the procedures for the sale of surplus Ministry of Defence equipment through auctioneers, term contractors and joint venture partners; and if he will give a statement. [15809]

Mr. Freeman

I refer the hon. Member to the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, report 557—"Disposal by Sale of Defence Surplus Equipment and Stores", and to the minutes of evidence taken before the Committee of Public Accounts on 26 January 1994.

Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list, by volume and type, the surplus(a) furniture or household items, (b) clothing, (c) plant, machinery or tools, (d) electrical goods, (e) electronic goods, (f) computer equipment, (g) ships, (h) aircraft, (i) tanks and (j) vehicles sold to preservation groups in the last year for which information is available; if he will identify the groups involved; and if he will give the total receipts for each category of item; [15805]

(2) if he will list, by volume and type, the surplus (a) furniture or household items, (b) clothing, (c) plant, machinery or tools, (d) electrical goods, (e) electronic goods, (f) computer equipment, (g) ships, (h) aircraft, (i) tanks, (j) vehicles and (k) other items sold to commercial companies in the last year for which information is available; if he will identify the companies involved; and if he will give the total receipts for each category of item; [15804]

(3) if he will list, by volume and type, the surplus (a) furniture or household items, (b) clothing, (c) plant, machinery or tools, (d) electrical goods, (e) electronic goods, (f) computer equipment, (g) ships, (h) aircraft, (i) tanks, (j) vehicles and (k) other items sold to private individuals in the last year for which information is available; if he will identify the companies involved; and if he will give the total receipts for each category of item. [15806]

Mr. Freeman

The Disposal Sales Agency currently has around 4,000 interested parties on its trades lists, covering 51 main commodity ranges further segmented into commodity types. In addition, several thousand customers attend auction sales throughout the country where approximately 40,000 lots are sold annually.

To break this information down by volume and type, to identify the purchasers and to give total receipts for each category of item would incur disproportionate cost.

Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the auctioneers, term contractors and joint venture partners currently involved in the sale of surplus Ministry of Defence equipment. [15808]

Mr. Freeman

The list is as follows:

Miscellaneous Auctioneers

  • Midland Marts
  • Harrison and Hetherington Ltd.
  • Russell Baldwin and Bright
  • Fuller Peiser Ltd. (from 1 April 1995)
  • Edward Symonds and Partners (from 1 April 1995)
  • John Law
  • Phillips
  • Sothebys
  • Savills Walker Walton Hanson (from 1 April 1995)

Vehicle Auctioneers

  • ADT Ltd.
  • Central Motor Auctions
  • Hartfield Auctions

Term Contractors

  • William Tracey
  • M. Hanratty
  • J. Graham
  • 501
  • Birds Commercial Metal
  • J. Wells and Son
  • Wisbech Metal
  • Stone Bros.
  • N. Spurr
  • Bridge Supply
  • J. Hurst and Sons
  • J. W. Ransome
  • A. V. Smith
  • Southern Industrial
  • Thomas Muir
  • Mountelm
  • Fordpad
  • G and P Batteries
  • Reliance Scrap
  • James Rollason
  • M. R. J. Phillips
  • Hanningfield Metals
  • Barnstable Metals
  • Kirton Motor Spares
  • G and I Dargie
  • F. Watson and Sons
  • Skipbridge Processors
  • S. Calvert and Sons
  • Robert Gibbs
  • Pounds Marine
  • Geo Johnson
  • Henderson Kerr
  • Clonteen Ltd.
  • L. C. Hughes
  • Sheppard Group
  • J. K. Miller
  • James W. Cory
  • Silver Lining Industries Ltd.
  • Silvo Chem Ltd.
  • D. Charlett
  • Tenrich Tyres
  • Mr. Cook
  • Woods Tyres
  • Tyre Depot (Sandy)
  • D. McFarlane and Sons
  • Dundee Tyres
  • Western Tyres
  • Creigiau Tyres
  • Associated Fuels Ltd.
  • Hunting Secon Ltd.
  • Waste Oil Ltd.
  • Ailsa Industrial Svcs Ltd.
  • Norver Paints Ltd.
  • Boots (Northern Ireland)
  • Avesta Sheffield

Joint Venture Partners

  • Leafield Logistics and Technical Services
  • Military Aircraft Spares
  • Royal Ordnance plc
  • Hall and Watts
  • MSI Defence Systems Ltd.

Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by type and number, the items of surplus Ministry of Defence equipment held for(a) two years, (b) five years and (c) 10 years awaiting sale. [15784]

Mr. Freeman

The answer is as follows.

Items held for two years

  • 1 Destroyer
  • 2 Frigates
  • 76 120mm Wombats
  • 502
  • 32 105mm Howitzers
  • 46 Phantom Spey Engines

Items held for five years

  • Nil

Items held for 10 years

  • Nil

Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the percentage share of the world market for surplus military equipment enjoyed by the United Kingdom; and if he will publish a table showing, in order, the top 10 nations that export surplus military equipment. [15812]

Mr. Freeman

The United Kingdom enjoyed a 4 per cent. share of the world market for surplus military equipment over the five years 1990–94.

Top ten exports of surplus military equipment
1990–94 Percentage
United States 61
Germany 12
United Kingdom 4
Netherlands 4
Iran 2
Bulgaria 2
Moldavia 1
Romania 1
North Korea 1
Qatar 1
Others 11