HL Deb 26 February 1970 vol 308 cc166-7

3.22 p.m.

BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGER

My 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 what information has been obtained as to how Howard Charles Wilson, recently sentenced to life imprisonment, came into possession of the firearm with which he murdered two policemen in Glasgow.]

THE LORD ADVOCATE (LORD WILSON OP LANGSIDE)

My Lords, the three men concerned in the bank robberies which preceded the murders joined the Bearsden Rifle Club a short time before the robbery at the Linwood Bank. One of them purchased a target pistol from an official of the club on the understanding that it was to be used in the club premises only. All three men used the pistol in the club. One of them must have taken it out for unlawful use in the course of the Linwood bank robbery, and later the pistol was deposited at the house in Allison Street, Glasgow, where it was used by Wilson to shoot the police officers.

BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGER

My Lords, I am much obliged to my noble friend for his Answer. Does it not suggest that some strengthening is required of the regulations controlling the possession and use of firearms? Also, may I ask my noble friend whether he is aware of reports that in a previous shooting case in the same area the murder weapon had been stolen from an un-attended motor car, and will he consider imposing stringent regulations upon the safe keeping of firearms?

LORD WILSON OF LANGSIDE

My Lords, with regard to the second part of the noble Baroness's question, the rifle to which he referred, which was used in the shooting incident in Glasgow, was indeed stolen from a car, which had been left in a car park at an hotel in the North of England. With regard to the first part of her question, the subject of firearms has recently been a matter of legislation. But I, along with my right honourable friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland, will certainly consider further the desirability of additional security measures.

BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGER

My Lords, is not the fact that this recent legislation has been followed by these incidents evidence that the recent legislation is not sufficiently stringent?

LORD WILSON OF LANGSIDE

My Lords, I do not think that that is a correct statement of the position.

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, I wonder whether my noble friend would say whether it is the case that the regulations applying to clubs under the Fire-arms Act apply in England and Wales, but not to the same degree in Scotland? Is that not the difficulty which has to be corrected?

LORD WILSON OF LANGSIDE

My Lords, I am unable to say whether the position in Scotland is exactly as it is in England. I am able to say that the rifle club from which this weapon was stolen was one which was approved by my right honourable friend under the Firearms Act 1968. I will certainly consider, with my right honourable friend, the point which my noble friend has made.

BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGER

My Lords, we understand that Her Majesty's Government are considering strengthening the regulations about the security of dangerous drugs. Would it not be reasonable to take similar steps in relation to firearms?