§ 2. Mr. Townsendasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will tighten the controls over the possession of shot-guns.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Dr. Shirley Summerskill)I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 18th March.
§ Mr. TownsendIs the hon. Lady aware that the shot-gun has become the preferred weapon for the serious criminal? Is she further aware that many senior police officers feel that the current rules and regulations are riddled with anomalies? Will she take urgent action to try to deal with the situation?
§ Dr. SummerskillWe hope that in the next Session amending legislation to the firearms law will be included in a Criminal Justice Bill, the passage of which we hope the hon. Gentleman's party will facilitate; but I cannot anticipate the Queen's Speech.
§ Mr. MacFarquharI do not wish to mitigate the problems of the criminal use of shot-guns, but will my hon. Friend confirm that there is no intention on the part of the Government to limit the use of shot-guns to those living in the country who own land? Does my hon. Friend appreciate that that would inhibit the use of shot-guns for sporting purposes?
§ Dr. SummerskillI cannot anticipate the details of the legislation, but I can assure my hon. Friend that that matter will be taken into consideration when the legislation is drawn up.