§ 1. Mr. Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Wax what decision has been reached about the adoption of an 84 millimetre recoilless missile launcher for infantry use.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for War (Mr. James Ramsden)None as yet. Final trials have just begun. If they are successful, my right hon. Friend hopes to make a decision before the end of March.
§ Mr. HollandWill my hon. Friend ensure that full consideration is given to the preference of the infantrymen who have been testing these weapons for the mechanically operated Carl Gustav launcher with a high missile velocity and low rate of barrel wear, and will he give a categorical assurance that, contrary to fears expressed to me by Army personnel, political considerations will carry no weight in the final choice of weapon to be adopted?
§ Mr. RamsdenThe answer to the second part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question is "Yes, Sir". The purpose of these trials is to discover which of these weapons is the best from the soldier's point of view, and that will be the determining consideration.
§ Mr. RamsdenEach of these weapons comes from a different country, and both countries, presumably, would have an interest; but my right hon. Friend's decision will be taken on military grounds.