§ 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 propose to take steps to tighten the regulations relating to the possession of firearms by private individuals; and, if so, when may these be expected.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, HOME OFFICE (Lord Harris of Greenwich)My Lords, within the framework of the Firearms Act 1968 there is very little scope for tightening the existing controls on the possession of firearms. As I told my noble friend in answer to her Question on 1st July, the main improvements in the existing controls which we contemplate will require legislation. This will be introduced as soon as an appropriate Parliamentary opportunity arises.
§ Baroness WOOTTON of ABINGERMy Lords, I suppose I must thank my noble friend for the latest in a long succession of Answers and of unfulfilled promises, spread over the past four years, regarding fresh legislation. But perhaps I might ask him whether he is aware that since the latest of these promises of fresh legislation (which was made when I asked my last Question in July) the national Press have reported 33 shooting incidents on the mainland of Great Britain, all causing personal injury and including 15 fatalities, but excluding cases of suicide or accident, and an additional 32 cases in which firearms were used as a threat, though not actually used, in the course of another type of crime? Would my noble friend perhaps find his sense of urgency stimulated by 1320 those facts, and would he include in the Official Report a summary of these cases which I hold in my hand?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHMy Lords, regarding the general purport of what my noble friend has said, I do not quarrel with it in any way. I accept that this is a serious matter, and the Government so regard it. Nevertheless, legislation of this character is substantial. It is also clearly highly controversial, as was demonstrated when the Party opposite were in Office. All I can say is that we are working on this at the moment, but I can hold out no hope of a Bill during this Session of Parliament.
Regarding the latter point raised by my noble friend, the Home Office has asked chief constables fairly recently to provide details of all cases in the year ending March 1976 in which a weapon subject to certificate control has been used in crime, or found in circumstances suggesting that it was held for criminal purposes. As soon as that information is available, it will be made available to my noble friend and to the House.
§ The Earl of MANSFIELDMy Lords, having regard to the offences to which the noble Baroness has drawn attention, is the noble Lord in a position to say how far they relate to firearms which are properly in somebody's possession—if the noble Lord understands my meaning—and how far to firearms, whether shotguns or rifles, which are properly in nobody's possession?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHMy Lords, obviously it would be rather difficult for me to answer a question of that character because it was in fact based on a statement made by my noble friend. As I have indicated, we are trying at the moment to improve the statistical data available and when this has been done I will make the data available to the House as a whole.
§ Lord GISBOROUGHMy Lords, would the noble Lord agree that tightening up on firearms regulations is likely to have the effect of merely making it much more difficult for the godly and not affecting in any way the ungodly?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHNo, my Lords, I would not agree with that view.
§ The Earl of ONSLOWMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord, when he comes to consider legislation, to make sure that it is a condition of the licence that firearms, when not in use, are kept firmly under lock and key? Presumably the noble Lord will be aware that it is the theft of shotguns, rifles or handguns which enables such weapons to get into the hands of what used to be called "the criminal classes"?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHYes, my Lords, that is an important point, which we recognise.
The Earl of SWANSEAMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether the Government have come to a decision about the setting up of an advisory committee through which the views of interested parties could be obtained when legislation is in draft, so that a Bill, when it is finally produced, is in a form which is likely to be acceptable?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHMy Lords, we have considered this point but at the moment we are not persuaded that such a committee would be helpful.
§ Baroness WOOTTON of ABINGERMy Lords, would my noble friend confirm that there was a Working Party of chief constables on this matter which reported about three years ago, and that subsequently a Green Paper was issued by the previous Government, on which no action whatever has ben taken?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHYes, my Lords; I can confirm both those points.
§ Baroness WOOTTON of ABINGERMy Lords, would my noble friend confirm the truth of certain Press reports to the effect that he is contemplating tightening the regulations concerning fireworks? If so, could he say on what grounds he gives priority to fireworks, admirable though the proposal may be, over firearms?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICH?My Lords, that question goes slightly wide of the original Question asked by my noble friend, but I will look into it.