MR. PIKE PEASEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether a muzzle velocity of 2,600 feet per second can be obtained in the short Lee-Enfield rifle without rapid deterioration of the 741 breech bolt and without exposing the user of the rifle to serious risk of accident by the blowing out of the bolt.
I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he himself, or one of his expert advisers, will give a practical demonstration of the strength of the breech action of the Lee-Enfield rifle by firing fifty rounds of an ammunition giving a muzzle velocity of 2,600 feet per second.
§ MR. HALDANEIn reply to this and the next Question, I would inform the hon. Member that exhaustive trials are still in progress under the expert advisers of the Army Council.