HC Deb 16 February 1954 vol 523 cc1804-6
32. Mr. M. Stewart

asked the Secretary of State for War on what date the War Office were informed of the acceptance, by the United States Government, of the .280 calibre ammunition.

Mr. Head

The Joint United States and United Kingdom report on the comparative trials, dated 4th October, 1950, recommended standardisation in the .280 inch calibre. But this policy was not officially accepted by the United States Government.

Mr. Stewart

Will the right hon. Gentleman now answer the Question I asked—on what date, if any, did the United States Government inform the War Office of their acceptance of this calibre?

Mr. Head

As I informed the House, and have just informed the hon. Gentleman, this recommendation was not accepted by the United States Government.

Mr. Stewart

Does the right hon. Gentleman remember that on 1st February he informed the House that, as he put it: the United States agreed to standardise on .280 inch."—[OFFICIAL REPORT 1st February, 1954; Vol. 523, c. 100.] and again later, that at one period the Americans accepted the .280 inch? If those phrases "the United States" and "the Americans"did not mean, as he has now admitted, the United States Government, were they not somewhat misleading and lacking in candour?

Mr. Head

If the hon. Gentleman looks at the context in each case where I used the words "British" and "American"he could not in either case think that it was the Governments concerned who adopted those courses.

Mr. Stewart

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realisethat the whole House took him to be referring to the United States Government, and that no other interpretation was possible? Would he like to inform the House what are the penalties imposed by the Army Act on a private soldier for making a false statement?

Mr. Head

I particularly resent the suggestion that I was trying deliberately to mislead the House. If the hon. Gentleman would read that debate fairly—and I believe that the right hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Strachey) would agree with me—he would realise that I never suggested that this Government or the United States Government at that period had decided upon standardisation of the .280. I stand by that, but I will re-read the report.

Mr. Strachey

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that on various occasions, both in and out of this House, we invited him to withdraw the very strong implication, to put it no higher, which he certainly made, that the then British Government had accepted this?

Mr. Head

What I stated, and it is in Hansard, was that at a certain period when standardisation on the .280 was suggested, it had been the policy of the War Office to standardise on the Belgian rifle.

Several Hon.

Membersrose—

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Michael Stewart.