§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the(a) Minimi LSW and (b) SA80 LSW; and if he will make a statement. [69156]
§ Mr. IngramThe Minimi Light Machine Gun (LMG) and the SA80A2 Light Support Weapon (LSW) are both deployed in support of the infantry with complementary but different roles. The Minimi LMG is capable of providing sustained suppressive firepower through belt fed ammunition at ranges of 300–400 m. The SA80A2 LSW can engage targets accurately at extended ranges (up to 600 m) at a lower rate of fire.
§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence which light support weapons were issued to UK troops as part of(a) Taskforce Jacana and (b) Operation Fingal; and if he will make a statement. [69154]
§ Mr. IngramMinimis and light support weapons were issued to troops on both operations. We always issue weapons to our forces which are appropriate for the tasks that we expect them to undertake.
§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Minimi light support weapons have been issued to UK troops in Afghanistan and at what cost to his Department; and if he will make a statement. [69155]
§ Mr. Ingram149 Minimis were issued to United Kingdom troops involved in Operations Jacana and Fingal in Afghanistan. I am withholding details of the cost in accordance with Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.