asked the Secretary of State for War what will be the saving of weight of ammunition carried by the soldier as a result of the introduction of the.280 rifle; what are the respective weights of the new rifle and of the pattern now in use.

The introduction of the.280 round will effect a 20 per cent. saving in weight as compared with the present.303 round. This will enable the soldier's load to be reduced or, alternatively, will allow a larger amount of ammunition to be carried by the individual. The new self-loading rifle will weigh only a few ounces less than the present bolt-operated single shot weapon, which weighs 8 lb. 13 oz.

Is it not a fact that an automatic weapon of this type will mean that more ammunition must be carried and, therefore, the point about the saving of weight is not really worth very much, if anything?

It is of limited application but, as was pointed out by my right hon. Friend, one of the most powerful advantages is the greater number of rounds per minute which can be fired from this weapon.

Will the hon. Gentleman make it clear whether this is an automatic rifle or an automatic loading rifle? They are quite different things and it certainly makes a difference to the number of rounds fired?

It is a self-loading rifle.