HL Deb 19 May 1970 vol 310 cc961-2
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 is available as to how Neil George Adamson sentenced to life imprisonment at Leeds Assizes on May 11, 1970, came into possession of the firearm with which he shot and murdered a night watchman and a police inspector.]

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, I understand that Adamson has refused to disclose how he came into possession of the firearm. Although the police believe that he obtained the weapon unlawfully, their inquiries have so far failed to establish how it came into his hands.

BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGER

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that Answer, may I ask him whether it is a fact that this man had a criminal record?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, I understand that he had.

BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGER

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether he does not think that this incident suggests, if this firearm had been illegally obtained, that the regulations, and particularly the enforcement of the regulations, about the control of firearms is in urgent need of revision? Can he give us an assurance that when the Government return after the Election this matter will receive early attention?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, I can give my noble friend an assurance that my right honourable friend the Home Secretary is watching this matter very carefully. As my noble friend will be aware penalties for illegal possession of firearms have been increased. The control over shotguns has been established since 1968, where previosuly there was no control, but at the moment my right honourable friend has no intention of introducing further legislation.

LORD WADE

My Lords, do I understand from that reply that it was a shotgun that was used in this incident? May I ask the noble Lord whether he would agree with me that the present control over shotguns is very unsatisfactory?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, it is difficult to assert that with certainty. The noble Lord will probably be aware that when in 1968 we took the powers that we now have, there was some opposition from the Benches opposite, and it would be just as well to see how the present powers work out.

LORD LEATHERLAND

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether it is not a fact that the majority of shotguns in this country are in the possession of Conservative country gentlemen?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, I understand that there are 600,000 shotguns in the country at the present time.