HL Deb 24 June 1997 vol 580 c158WA
Lord Acton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will undertake a review of the penalties for the illegal possession of firearms of all types.

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The penalties for the illegal possession of firearms were last increased in 1994. The maximum penalty for the illegal possession of a prohibited weapon (including, from 1 July, large-calibre handguns) is 10 years' imprisonment; seven years for the illegal possession of a sawn-off shot gun or a firearm converted from a replica; and five years for the illegal possession of a firearm or shot gun.

However, we shall be looking again at these penalties when we come to review all the firearms controls once the Firearms Bill has been passed.