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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the procedure whereby military equipment which has become surplus to requirements is listed and described in order to give museums an opportunity to bid for the items, indicating when the existing procedure was instituted, how many artefacts have been so advertised to museums and how many bids have been (a) received and (b) accepted; and what changes are planned in the procedure. [160350] Dr. Moonie: There are established procedures, introduced in March 1999, for the six principal service museums, the regimental and corps museums, the Imperial war museum, the science museum, the national maritime museum and museums sponsored by local authorities that have a clear defence interest allowing them to identify equipment that they may wish to acquire. If equipment identified is declared as surplus and gifting or loan is not an option, museums are invited to bid by the Disposal Services Agency (DSA) by means of competitive tender. Currently the DSA has 76 museums on their database covering interests such as aircraft and armoured vehicles. There are no changes planned in the procedure. The DSA conducts most of its sales, however, via its marketing contractors and the museums are, of course, at liberty to approach these direct to purchase equipments. Details of equipments held are available through the DSA website and the subsequent links to its contractors. The full number of tenders issued to museums and the number of museums successful with their tenders can be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, for aircraft alone, two tenders have been issued to 66 museums since March 1999 and seven museums have been successful.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

368 c250-1W; 160350

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Advertising Defence equipment Museums and galleries Surpluses

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk