To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent (a) representations he has received on and (b) assessment he has made of the reliability of .50 ammunition for the heavy machine gun used by UK troops in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. (129324)

We are experiencing no performance problems with any ammunition and a rigorous testing system is in place to assure this.

Reports of stoppages on the 0.5 calibre heavy machine gun were received from Afghanistan last year. Comprehensive technical investigations confirmed that the cause was a weapons system problem, not the ammunition, which was quickly resolved.

In an unrelated investigation, some ammunition was found to have substandard links, which were causing wear to feeding blocks. The decision was swiftly taken to withdraw all of this ammunition from theatre, and the stock was replaced.

The weapon system, including its ammunition is currently operating efficiently in all theatres of operation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) for what reason Eurofighter aircraft are being deployed in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement; (129472)

There are no plans to deploy Eurofighter aircraft to Afghanistan.