HC Deb 16 February 1943 vol 386 c1570
14. Mr. Stokes

asked the Secretary of State for War, what type of British tank in use in Tunisia in the recent battles by the British Forces is the equal of the German' Mark IV, equipped with a 76 mm. gun; and what type is considered equal to the Tiger tank armed with an 88 mm. gun?

Sir J. Grigg

The answer to my hon. Friend's present Question is the same as the answer given him on Wednesday last.

Mr. Stokes

Does the Minister recollect the speech which he himself made in September last year, when he gave an assurance that the tanks being produced by us were equal to anything which the Germans, Italians and Japanese had; and will he now assure the House that those tanks are better than the two types of tanks mentioned in my Question?

Sir J. Grigg

In his Supplementary Question the hon. Member, no doubt quite unintentionally, is misquoting me. I said, "the tanks now coming into production."

Mr. Stokes

Will the right hon. Gentleman assure me that they will be better than the tanks in question?

Sir J. Grigg

In my view they certainly will.

Mr. Stokes

Well, the right hon. Gentleman is wrong.