HC Deb 11 December 1990 vol 182 c351W
Mr. Harry Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to the implications for personal liberty and civil liberties arising from European Community documents Nos. 10074/89 and 8836/90 on the controls on the acquisition and possession of weapons.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

We have no reason to believe that the European Commission's proposal for a directive on the control of the acquisition and possession of weapons will have any implications for personal or civil liberties in Great Britain. But if the hon. Member wishes to draw to our attention any such implications which he considers may exist, we shall consider them carefully.

Mr. Harry Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Trevi group has considered the security implications of European Community documents Nos. 10074/89 and 8836/90 on the control on the acquisition and possession of weapons.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

No. The draft directive on the control of the acquisition and possession of weapons is concerned with the legitimate possession and movements of arms within the Community. The general declaration on articles 13 to 19 of the Single European Act explicitly preserves the right of member states to take such measures as they consider necessary to combat terrorism and crime.