§ 62. Mr. Manderasked the Home Secretary whether he is now able to state the decision of the Government with reference to the compulsory surrender of firearms held on certificate, and shotguns, for which a gun licence has been taken out?
§ Sir J. AndersonI have discussed this further with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War, and investigation of this proposal has satisfied the military authorities that it is not desirable to proceed with the plan.
§ Mr. ManderIs the House to understand from that reply that the Government have all the arms they require?
§ Sir J. AndersonNot necessarily, but it has been ascertained that firearms in the possession of individual members of the public are of so many different types and that so few comparatively are of a bore suitable for use by the Home Guard that the labour and inconvenience involved in picking these out and assessing the compensation payable for them would not be justified.