§ Earl Attleeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 8 November 2000 (WA 162), whether they will indicate on what date Ministers in the Ministry of Defence approved the adoption of 5.56mm as the calibre of the Army rifle to replace the 7.62mm self-loading rifle. [HL1518]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe extant records on the replacement programme for the self-loading rifle are limited. The available sources show that ministerial approval for final development and advanced action for production for the SA80, with an expected calibre of 5.56mm, took place on 18 July 1979.