§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list his Department's 5.56 mm., 7.62 mm. and 9.00 mm. small arms ammunition requirement for 1986–87.
§ Mr. Norman LamontI have nothing to add to my answer of 4 March at column127.
§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of 7.62 mm. small arms ammunition his Department intends to purchase from Royal Ordnance Small Arms Limited.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThis will depend upon a range of considerations, not the least of which is the value for money on offer.
§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he wishes to retain in the United Kingdom a strategic capacity in 5.56 mm, 7.62 mm and 9.00 mm small arms ammunition.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThere are at present no plans to relinquish indigenous manufacturing capability for small arms ammunition natures.
§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will name the British companies which are currently supplying the British armed forces with small arms.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe following British companies are currently supplying the British armed forces with small arms:
- RO plc
- Accuracy International
- Hull Cartridge Company
§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the British companies which are currently producing a 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm small arms ammunition for the British armed forces.
§ Mr. Norman LamontRoyal Ordnance plc is the only British company at present manufacturing these natures.
§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of his Department's small arms ammunition requirement he intends to place overseas in 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89 and 1989–90.
§ Mr. Norman LamontAs I stated in the House on 30 January at columns 1180–81 it is our policy to increase the proportion of the ammunition programme put to competition. This does not, however, imply an intention to place orders overseas rather than in the United Kingdom. The volume of orders awarded to overseas companies will be decided in the light of the relative merits of the tenders received.
§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what supportive measures his Department proposes to allow British small arms ammunition manufacturers to compete in countries from which his Department purchases small arms ammunition but do not allow British small arms ammunition manufacturers to compete.
§ Mr. Norman LamontWe are prepared to discuss particular problems drawn to our attention by British small arms manufacturers. It is, however, for other countries to determine for themselves the source from which they purchase their small arms.