Land Rover Patrol Vehicles

HC Deb 17 June 1997 vol 296 c125W

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Land Rover patrol vehicles purchased for use by Britain's armed forces; how many were provided with general purpose machine guns and 40 millimetre grenade launchers; and who supplied these weapons. [3591]

Mr. Spellar

Thirty-nine Land Rover patrol vehicles were purchased in 1985. All the vehicles are equipped with the mounting to fit either the general purpose machine gun (GPMG) or 40mm Grenade launchers. The GPMG was purchased from Royal Ordnance—then Royal Ordnance Factory—Enfield in the 1960s and 1970s and the 40mm Grenade launcher was purchased from Sidem (UK) Ltd. in 1990.