HL Deb 12 June 1975 vol 361 cc489-90

3.18 p.m.

Viscount MASSEREENE and FERRARD

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 whether they are aware of the lethal capacity of the crossbow; and whether they contemplate any action to regulate their ownership by licence.

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, although these devices are potentially dangerous, the Government have no evidence that they are misused to any significant extent; and we have no plans to regulate their ownership by licence.

Viscount MASSEREENE and FERRARD

My Lords, while rather lukewarmly thanking the noble Lord for that Answer, may I ask him whether he is aware that these weapons are now fitted with telescopic sights and, firing a metal bolt, can kill a man or a largish animal at 50 yards? For anyone contemplating an unlawful act they have the added advantage that they are comparatively silent. Is the noble Lord aware that in 1972 the Control of Firearms Committee recommended that control of crossbows should be brought into force?

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, I know from my own inquiries that a good deal of attention has been given to the matter and that much thought has gone into it. As the noble Viscount will know, the majority of crossbows are owned for legitimate use in connection with target shooting. There is very little evidence so far that there has been any misuse. I think that I am right in saying that over the last two years the RSPCA has reported only 14 such incidents. Admittedly, that was in regard to cattle, and it may be 14 cases too many; but we are aware of the dangers and we should take what steps were appropriate and necessary should the occasion arise.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE

My Lords, can the noble Lord tell the House which Department is concerned with the matter? Is it the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food—for cattle; or the Department of Health and Social Security; or the Home Office—for criminal affairs; or the Department of Defence?

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, I happen to be answering in the place of my noble friend Lord Harris of Greenwich, and so presumably it must be the Home Office.

Lord LLOYD of KILGERRAN

My Lords, in view of the well-known success with the longbow of the Welsh archers at the battle of Agincourt, are the Government anticipating any researches into the longbow?

The Earl of MANSFIELD

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that many of those persons employed in the making of gas and oil pipelines, wending their way from the North Sea to their ultimate destinations, use and employ these bows for the destruction of such wild creatures as they may find? Secondly, has the noble Lord any information as to whether these people are being secretly employed in future for the defence of the Realm, or are they possibly the new secret Scottish Army?

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, I cannot comment on the second part of the noble Earl's supplementary question. But in answer to the first part of it, I said that over two years 14 examples came to the notice of the RSPCA.