§ 3.14 p.m.
§ BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGERMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will amend the legislation relating to firearms so as to make the possession of any firearm conditional upon the holding of a licence, and to prohibit the issue of such licences to persons who have been convicted of an indictable offence.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM)My Lords, firearms certificates are already required for the possession of practically all firearms except air weapons and long-barrelled shotguns, and persons who have been sentenced to terms of detention of three months or more are prohibited from having in their possession any type of firearm either for five years following release or, where the sentence was three years or more, indefinitely. The Firearms Act 1965 strengthened the existing law very substantially and in addition my right honourable friend the Home Secretary has announced that he is endeavouring to draw up plans covering those shotguns for which firearm certificates are not required.
§ BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGERMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that extremely helpful Answer. May I express the hope that it will have wide publicity? May I ask him also, first, whether he is satisfied that the machinery for enforcing these regulations is satisfactory; and, second, whether it is proposed to take similar action in relation to airguns and long-barrelled shotguns?
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, I am satisfied that the machinery for enforcing the Firearms Act 1965 and previous legislation is working satisfactorily. It was thoroughly discussed with chief officers of police before the Bill was introduced, and it is working well. With regard to long-barrelled shotguns, my right honourable friend the Home Secretary is at present drawing up plans to end the unrestricted sale of long-barrelled 994 shotguns and it is hoped to include the necessary legislative provisions in the Criminal Justice Bill which he intends to introduce this Session. With regard to airguns, we are satisfied that the restrictions at present imposed are adequate: no child under 14 may possess an air-gun or use one in public except in the presence of an adult; no person under 17 may carry an airgun in public unless in a cover or a case; no one is allowed to have a loaded shotgun or airgun in public. We think those restrictions are sufficient for the present purposes.
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, may I ask two supplementary questions?—I am sorry to make it two. The first is: have Her Majesty's Government any idea of the number of shotguns now in the possession of private persons?
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, I should not care to say that Her Majesty's Government had any idea, in the sense that they know the number with any exactitude. Estimates made are that there are a very large number; but I should not like to commit myself on this matter.
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, in view of that reply—and we all know that the number is very large—may I ask whether Her Majesty's Government will pay particular attention to the administration of firearms certificates when shotguns are included, to see that no undue burden is placed on the police? Because it appears to many of us that if the method of administration of these certificates is not altered the burden on the police will be very heavy.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, the heavy burden of administration may well have been the reason why the restrictions which it is proposed to impose in the future were not brought in earlier. But in view of the heavy and increasing need for some measure of control, these matters have been carefully considered with chief officers of police throughout the country and with other organisations, such as the National Farmers' Union, who are particularly interested in these matters. As a result of these discussions we are convinced that the measures we propose will not place an undue or unacceptable burden on the police and that they will be effective.
§ BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGERMy Lords, would not the noble Lord agree that the police, of all people, have the strongest possible interest in making the possession of firearms subject to stringent restrictions?
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, I agree. Throughout this matter we have been in continuous consultation with the police and have availed ourselves of their experience.