asked the Minister of Supply if adequate steps are taken to review continuously the stores of surplus Government equipment being held pending disposal to ensure that no undue deterioriation takes place before being offered for sale, thereby reducing the value of the stores or rendering them useless.

Yes, Sir.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there are reports from within his Department to the effect that ammunition and other military store boxes have been accumulated at a number of depots and have been left in the open for a period of upwards of two years? Will he look into this, and give an assurance that some system will be applied whereby reports on these matters will be encouraged to be brought forward for consideration and acted upon to prevent deterioration of such stores?

Yes, Sir, of course I will look into any specific case, which may or may not be as my hon. Friend says. On the general point, I am satisfied.

Mr. Vane:

Does the hon. Gentleman's reply cover the 65,000 vehicles known to be disintegrating in car parks in Germany?

If the hon. Gentleman wants to ask about those vehicles in Germany, perhaps he will put down a Question, but the facts are not as he has stated.