§ CAPTAIN CRAIG (Down, E.)I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether he is aware that it is necessary to be licensed in order to carry arms in England and Scotland, but no such restriction exists in Ireland since the dropping by the Government of the Peace Preservation 510 Act; and whether, in view of the increase of outrages in Ireland in which firearms, including revolvers, are used, the Government will take immediate steps to restrict the free sale of such arms to irresponsible persons in Ireland.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe hon. and gallant Member is mistaken in supposing that there is any law as to licences for carrying arms which does not operate in Ireland equally with England and Scotland. The Government do not contemplate legislation differentiating Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom in respect of the sale of arms.