§ Lady Gammansasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the recent increase in the number of crimes of violence involving the shooting of innocent persons, he will re-consider his decision not to grant an amnesty prior to the surrender of firearms, such as was done in 1946.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI have no power to grant an amnesty. It is the normal practice of the Commissioner of Police56W of the Metropolis to put no obstacle in the way of any person who wishes to surrender firearms or ammunition to the police, and I understand that other chief officers of police generally follow the same practice. I do not consider that a special appeal, of the kind made in 1946 in the special circumstances which then existed, would be of value at present.