§ 47. Mr. George Chetwyndasked the Prime Minister whether he will continue discussions with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation about the adoption of the.280 rifle as a standard weapon.
§ 50. Mr. Woodrow Wyattasked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement with regard to the recent conversations between the Secretary of State for War and Mr. Pace on the subject of the.280 rifle.
§ The Prime MinisterIt would not be possible to re-arm the British Forces with the.280 rifle on the scale of the millions required for a considerable number of years. A few weeks can therefore safely be allowed for the examination of this question at the present time. I shall take an opportunity of making a statement to the House upon this subject before we rise for the Christmas Recess.
§ Mr. ChetwyndAs no recommendation has yet been received from the Standing Committee of N.A.T.O., can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he shares the view of the last Government that the.280 rifle is the best practicable weapon of its kind in existence?
§ the posted strength of a unit based in Korea, or 28 days afloat in Korean waters.
§ The Prime MinisterI have already endeavoured from another place to explain to the House that, while it is very nice to have the best pattern of rifle, this matter has to be settled in relation to very large numbers in supply among the troops.
§ Mr. WyattWill the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that he will not in any way allow the preparations which are at present going forward to get the.280 rifle in production at the earliest possible moment to be delayed, because this is the best way to produce millions of them as soon as possible?
§ The Prime MinisterThe expression, "to produce millions of them as soon as possible." is a very good illustration of the utter divorcement from facts which is in the mind of the hon. Gentleman. Supposing 10,000 or 20,000 of these rifles are made in a year and we have to deal in two million or three million of them, we are obviously out of the region of practical politics.
§ Mr. ShinwellWhile appreciating that we cannot produce the new.280 rifle for some considerable time to come, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the same applies to the modern version of the.300 American rifle? They have made it quite 815 plain that they cannot produce this new rifle for some years to come and are we not going to be in the position, if we cannot produce the new.280 rifle in this country, that we shall have to rely on the existing American pattern, which is regarded as practically obsolete?
§ The Prime MinisterI would be prepared to argue this question at very great length, but you, Mr. Speaker, would very rightly forbid me to do so at Question-time. Before Parliament rises I shall give a very full statement on this matter, on which I hold strong convictions.