§ Mr. David YoungTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the precise causes of delays experienced because of the unreliability of the new AS1 rifle in bringing it into general use; when it will be reliable enough to be issued; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe designation "AS1 rifle" is not one which we use: the individual weapon now being issued is the SA80 of which nearly 90,000 are currently in service. Of these, 2.3 per cent. will be returned to the manufacturer for rectification following mechanical defects which have become apparent during extreme service use.