HC Deb 05 February 1953 vol 510 cc2027-8
45. Mr. Wyatt

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a further statement, as a result of his recent visit to the United States of America, on the standardisation of an infantry rifle between Britain and the United States of America.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Winston Churchill)

I have already said that I do not propose to make any statement about what I did or did not discuss in my informal talks with my friends in the United States. I will, however, take this opportunity of stating the present position about the rifle.

The House is already aware that the experimental work in N.A.T.O. is concentrated on the development of a standard round. The United Kingdom has joined with Canada and Belgium in the development of a modified .280 round to meet the agreed N.A.T.O. military characteristics. This round, although of different calibre, will have the same cartridge case and overall length as the new .300 round being developed by the United States. After the development work and domestic trials of the new round are completed, which should be within the next six months, further consideration on the adoption of a standard round will be necessary in N.A.T.O.

Once a choice has been made by N.A.T.O. of the calibre of the new round, the rifles being developed in any of the four countries could easily be adapted, by replacement of the barrel, to fire it. The new British rifle has already been modified to fire the new round in either calibre.

Mr. Wyatt

Does this mean that we shall now go ahead with making the new modified .280 rifle for distribution throughout the British Army at the end of the six months' period, when all the trials are over?

The Prime Minister

I think that is a question of which I ought to have notice.

Mr. Shinwell

Would not the Prime Minister agree that it follows from what he said that if there is a compromise arrangement about the round, then, the calibre question being disposed of, there should be no difficulty about utilising the round in either the .280 new British rifle or in the .300 American rifle? Is not that the objective, and if it is the objective, cannot we now proceed with the production of the .280 rifle?

The Prime Minister

I think we are proceeding along the best course at the present time.