§ 5. Mr. Wyattasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence whether he will make a further statement on the future development of the 280 rifle for general use in the British Army.
§ Mr. BirchAgreement has now been reached in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation on the characteristics of an improved round of small arms ammunition. No round yet developed possesses these characteristics in full. Experimental work is therefore proceeding on the development of such a round and of weapons to fire it. The object is to produce a round and weapons which will be accepted as standard by all N.A.T.O countries.
§ Mr. WyattDoes this mean that the 280 rifle has now been abandoned altogether? Does it mean that we have given up our attempt to convert the American experts to the view that our rifle is superior to anything they can invent?
§ Mr. BirchNo, it does not mean that. Development work is still proceeding on the 280 rifle to see if it can be developed to produce a round of the hitting power required.
§ Mr. ShinwellDoes it not mean that the Government have not taken the advice of their expert military advisers?
§ Mr. WyattHow long will the experimental work take? Surely the Minister knows that it took several years to develop the 280 rifle and that if we are to start again now it will take five or six years?