Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the disposal of the stock of obsolete publications identified on page 90 on his Resource Accounts 2004–05, indicating in each case (a) the name of publication, (b) the number of copies disposed of, (c) the nature of disposal and (d) the reason for overestimation of print run required. [52578]
Mrs. McGuire: The obsolete publications referred to in the Resource Account 2004–05 were those made by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). During that year some 1,032 stock lines (271,714 copies) were subject to disposal and adjustment. Of the total there were two major disposals; 165,771 copies across 783 stock lines (61 per cent. of total) were due to the disposal of slow moving stock. This followed a recommendation from the National Audit Office that HSE should reduce its stock levels. A significant number of these publications were quite longstanding, and demand was initially based on placing orders for larger volumes in order to achieve cheaper print costs. Following the larger than usual level of disposals in 2004–05, HSE has put in place a policy of setting shorter print runs to better reflect actual demand. A further 82,619 copies across 18 stock lines (30 per cent. of total) were disposed of due to a revision of the content, requiring the current stocks to be replaced by revised versions. This was an exceptionally high and unusual level of disposal. HSE have since changed the way in which the content of their publications is reviewed to help avoid a re-occurrence.
The remainder of the disposals in 2004–05 were due to publications being withdrawn because a brand new publication superseded current guidance, or a publication became obsolete and the guidance or information was no longer required. There were also a small number of write offs for stock damaged in transit or storage, and adjustments made following the annual stock count. | 
