§ 10. Mr. HillSecretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the statutory provisions which govern the sale of replica firearms.
§ Mr. WhitelawThere are no specific statutory controls on the sale of replica firearms.
§ Mr. HillAs it was only a few weeks ago that Her Majesty the Queen had such a narrow escape from serious injury, is it not time that the House, with all the co-operation that I think that we would get within the Chamber, brought forward an emergency Bill to cover replica firearms and prevent these weapons being sold and turned into lethal weapons?
§ Mr. WhitelawIt was a most unfortunate incident, but I do not think that we should exaggerate it and pretend that the Queen had a narrow escape from serious injury since, at the time of the incident, the gun that was used could not fire a bullet. It is important to keep the matter in proper perspective. I said that we would examine urgently whether a new Bill on replica firearms should be introduced following the incident at the Trooping the Colour. My hon. Friend the Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Griffiths) and the right hon. Member for Norwich, North (Mr. Ennals) have both agreed that they will consider the possibility of producing such a Bill. I am grateful to them. There are difficulties. For example, there is the problem of differentiating between realistic imitations of lethal weapons—which are serious—and models that are harmless children's toys—which are not. The problem is difficult but I hope that we can make progress. I should not like to exaggerate the seriousness of the position from which we are starting.