Stores Losses

HC Deb 22 January 1996 vol 270 c81W

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark), on 14 December.Official Report, column 762, what are the 20 most valuable items which have been (a) stolen and (b) lost from the armed services stores in the past five years; and what is their estimated (i) value and (ii) replacement cost. [11096]

Mr. Soames

Figures for items lost or stolen valued at below £100,000 could not be provided without disproportionate cost since a central register is not held.

A central register of stores losses of over £100,000, however, is maintained. From this register there are two cases of items lost from armed services stores.

(1) Stores lost in transit from stores depot to RN vessel.Description A Thermal Imager was lost in transit. Extensive searches have failed to locate its whereabouts. Value: £118,000 Replacement Cost: £118,000 Date of Loss: July 1993(2) Stores lost in transit on return to stores depotDescription A consignment of 3 inch rockets being returned to a Royal Naval armament depot in Scotland after the Gulf conflict was lost in transit. Despite extensive investigation, the exact cause of the loss could not be determined. Value: £104,000 Replacement Cost: £104,000 Date of Loss: April 1991

Both losses are detailed in the 1995 appropriations account which was approved by the National Audit Office.