§ Captain Kerbyasked the Secretary of State for War what rifle would, in the event of hostilities today, be used for sniping; what ammunition it would take; what its grouping capacity is at 400 yards; and if it is an arm common to all North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries.
§ Mr. ProfumoThe .303 inch No. 4 Rifle, Mark 1 (T) is at present used for sniping. It can achieve a four-inch group at 200 yards. It is not the Army's practice to record grouping at 400 yards. A telescopic sight for the 7.62 mm. rifle is under development and when it is available, the present sniping rifle will go out of service. The 7.62 mm. rifle has the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation standard calibre but there is no rifle common to all North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries.
§ Captain Kerbyasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of recent disclosures of the insufficiency of supplies of the 7.62 mm. self-loading rifle, he will consider the advisability of rebarrelling a sufficient number of Enfield rifles to take the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 7.62 mm. ammunition, to assure the availability of arms for immediate use in case of necessity.
§ Mr. Profumo7.62 mm. self-loading rifles are held to meet the needs of the British Army and to provide reserves and maintenance stocks for use in emergencies. Rebarrelling of .303 inch rifles to take North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 7.62 mm. ammunition is carried out only to meet requests from Commonwealth and other friendly countries. These have all been invited to say whether they have any requirement. Conversion kits are also available from commercial sources in this country.