Surplus Domestic Equipment

Oral Answers to Questions — Royal Air Force – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 2 Ebrill 1947.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Mr Louis Tolley Mr Louis Tolley , Kidderminster 12:00, 2 Ebrill 1947

asked the Secretary of State for Air if the large quantity of equipment at R.A.F. maintenance units, suitable for civilian use, will now be made available, in view of the shortage existing at the present time of those articles.

Photo of Mr Philip Noel-Baker Mr Philip Noel-Baker , Derby

The R.A.F. have made every effort to release without delay all surplus equipment which they do not require. Special priority is given to goods that are suitable for domestic use. There have been special difficulties in recent months, but I am glad to assure my hon. Friend that satisfactory progress has been made.

Photo of Mr Louis Tolley Mr Louis Tolley , Kidderminster

Will the Minister give an assurance that he will have a complete inventory made of all the R.A.F. equipment to which I have referred, because if so he will find that a large number of articles could still be used for the purpose of rebuilding the country at the present time?

Photo of Mr Philip Noel-Baker Mr Philip Noel-Baker , Derby

My hon. Friend will realise that we must keep certain stocks for the future, and we do not want to go into the market with the civilian public. The making of the inventory for which he asks in itself involves a great deal of labour and delay in release. If we had not to make inventories we could release men much more quickly.

Photo of Hon. Lancelot Joynson-Hicks Hon. Lancelot Joynson-Hicks , Chichester

Can the Minister give any indication what progress he considers satisfactory?

Photo of Mr Philip Noel-Baker Mr Philip Noel-Baker , Derby

In spite of the bad weather and lack of transport, which, for the last few months, greatly retarded matters, we have released very nearly three-quarters of what we shall be able to release, and I hope we shall finish it within this year.

Photo of Mr Edward Fleming Mr Edward Fleming , Manchester, Withington

Is it not a fact that equipment inventories are kept up to date in all these stores?

Photo of Mr Philip Noel-Baker Mr Philip Noel-Baker , Derby

Yes, they are kept up to date. That means that, as things are constantly coming in from stations, a good deal of our labour is used there.