§ Lord Gainfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to implement the European Community Directive on the Control of the Acquisition and Possession of Weapons.
Earl FerrersWe have today laid before Parliament draft regulations under the European Communities Act,1972. These regulations will, if approved, transpose the directive into law in Great Britain. Domestic controls on firearms will remain substantially unchanged. However the private possession of firearms disguised as other objects will be lawful only for museums, collectors and others duly authorised. We intended to make arrangements forex-gratia payments to people who as a result of these regulations surrender such firearms before 1st January 1993 which were lawfully held by them on or before 16th July 1992. Further details of these arrangements will be announced in the autumn.