§ 33. Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the side arms supplied for police use in the United Kingdom is made in Great Britain.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsIn England and Wales the responsibility for equipping each force with firearms rests with the chief constable and the police authority and no information has been collected centrally since police forces began to re-equip with new weapons following a review completed in 1971.
§ Mr. Edward Gardnerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the testing and efficiency of weapons used by personal bodyguards in the Metropolitan Police.
§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to review the side arms supplied to police officers on personnel protection duties; and if, in particular, he will discontinue the use of the Walther pistol.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsThese points are being currently examined as part of the review of protection measures following the incident on 20th March.
§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why police officers on personnel protection duties are not equipped with British firearms.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsThe provision of firearms for each police force is a matter for its chief officer and the police authority. A review conducted in consultation with chief officers of police in England, Wales and Scotland found in 1971 that there were no automatic pistols or revolvers manufactured in the United Kingdom which could be recommended as suitable for police purposes.