§ SIR FREDERICK BANBURY (City of London)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if there is an age limit laid down in the Army Ordnance regulations for .303 small arms ammunition; if so, whether it has boon decided to increase this age limit, and for what reasons, and by how many years; and if, in view of the recent instances of deterioriation of cordite in India, resulting in several separate explosions, he will consider the advisability of not extending the age limit of .303-inch cordite small arms ammunition.
§ MR. HALDANENo ago limit is laid down in the Army Ordnance regulations for small arm ammunition. Instructions were some years ago sent to the commands abroad not to keep small arm ammunition beyond a certain time, but these instructions turn out, in the light of further experience and of fuller knowledge, based on scientific investigation, to have been ill-founded. The whole matter is being reconsidered in the light which the investigations of the scientific departments of the War Office have thrown on it. The explosions in India were not of small arm ammunition.
§ SIR FREDERICK BANBURYHas any extension of the age limit been authorised?
§ MR. HALDANEreplied in the negative.