§ Captain Kerbyasked the Secretary of State for War whether adequate supplies of the 7.62 mm. self-loading rifle are held to meet the needs of the British Army and to provide reserves and maintenance stocks for use in mobilisation now.
§ Mr. ProfumoI have nothing to add to the Answer I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend on 4th December, 1962.
§ Captain Kerbyasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the difficulty of finding a Service barrel that is accurate with the 7.62 mm. streamlined North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ammunition, he will take steps to ensure that .303 rifles rebarrelled to take 7.62 mm. ammunition will be fitted with the most accurate type of barrel obtainable, using the experience of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries and the help of a high-speed camera to that end.
§ Mr. ProfumoI have no plans at present for rebarrelling .303 inch rifles for the British Army.
§ Captain Kerbyasked the Secretary of State for War if, in view of recorded United States experience in the war in the Far East that it was necessary to be able to snipe at 400 yards, his policy is to continue to use the sniping rifle of the last war; and how this rifle compares with the sniping rifles of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries.
§ Mr. ProfumoAs I told my hon. and gallant Friend in answer to his Written Question of 4th December, 1962, the Army's 7.62 mm. rifle will be used for sniping when a suitable telescopic sight has been developed. It is not the practice to publish details of the comparative efficiency of our own weapons and those of our allies, but I can say there is no 179W evidence to indicate that the Army's .303 inch sniping rifle is inferior to equivalent N.A.T.O. rifles.