HC Deb 09 December 1959 vol 615 c498
16. Mr. John Hall

asked the Secretary of State for War what progress has been made in equipping units of the British Army with the F.N. rifle; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Soames

Production is going well and the rifle has been issued to all infantry battalions. Issue to other units has begun and will be completed throughout the Army early in 1961.

Mr. Hall

Does my right hon. Friend think it likely that he will be able to persuade the West German forces to take this rifle?

Mr. Soames

That supplementary question is very wide of the Question on the Paper.

Mr. Strachey

But would the right hon. Gentleman at any rate make some effort to see that ammunition is standardised, because the really alarming thing is that now we should be told that there is no standardisation even of small arms ammunition in N.A.T.O.?

Mr. Soames

I take the right hon. Gentleman's point, but it does not arise out of this Question. I would advise him to put down a Question about the German army to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence.

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