§ Mr. EDWARD STRAUSSasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the proceedings at the coroner's inquest on the body of Katherine Butler, which concluded at Southwark on the 28th April; and whether there is any prospect of steps being taken at an early date to give effect to the rider of the jury to the effect that legislation is urgently required providing that no one under the age of eighteen years shall be allowed to purchase or have in his possession any weapon answering the definition of a gun under the Gun Licences Act, 1870, and the Pistols Act, 1903?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe answer to the first paragraph of the question is in the affirmative. I am aware of the need for legislation to amend the Pistols Act, 1903, in certain points, but I fear that in the present state of Parliamentary business I cannot hold out any hope that I shall be able to introduce a Bill in this Session.