§ 50. Mr. Stokesasked the Minister of Production whether the- approval of the 896 Tank Board, as a body, was obtained before the A22 was put into production, in June, 1940; and what was the name of the person on the Board at that time with experience of design and production of tanks prior to his appointment to the Board?
§ Mr. LytteltonWith regard to the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Prime Minister's very full statement to the House on 15th December last. So far as the second part of the Question is concerned, Major-General Crawford and Mr. Moyses, who were members of the Tank Board in June, 1940, had had experience of design and production of tanks respectively before their appointment to the Board.
§ Mr. StokesIs not the Minister aware that the statement of the Prime Minister was thoroughly unsatisfactory? Can he give the date on which this matter was referred to the Board, or will he do so if I put a Question down?
§ Mr. LytteltonI cannot admit that the Prime Minister's statement was unsatisfactory.
§ Sir A. SouthbyOf course, you cannot. You would get the sack if you did.
§ Mr. LytteltonThe point which the hon. Member raises is most specifically answered in two different senses in the Prime Minister's statement.
§ Mr. StokesWill the Minister give the information if I put a Question down?
§ 51. Mr. Stokesasked the Minister of Production what British tank with firepower equal to the German Mk. IV, equipped with a 76 mm, gun firing a 14 lb. shell with effective- range of 3,000 yards, was coming off the production line in June, 1942?
§ Mr. LytteltonIt would not be in the public interest to give the information for which the hon. Member asks. I may add that there is no evidence that the-German tank which he mentions was in action against us at the time to which he refers.
§ Mr. StokesDoes the Minister consider that a six-pounder gun with an effective range of 300 yards is equivalent to the gun I describe in the Question?
§ Mr. LytteltonThat is quite a different question.