HL Deb 23 January 2001 vol 621 c8WA
The Earl of Shrewsbury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will provide details of all cases since the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 came into effect in which the possession of lawfully authorised Section 1 firearms of a type usually called long-barrelled revolvers has resulted in any identifiable danger to public safety. [HL293]

Lord Bassam of Brighton

This information is not recorded centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The number of lawfully authorised weapons of this kind is comparatively small at present and the Government are not aware of any cases involving the misuse of such weapons after 1997. However, the Government understand that in the 1980s there were cases in which long barrelled smooth-bore revolvers were sawn off and used in serious crime.

The Earl of Shrewsbury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will provide details of all cases arising in the past five years in which rifles of 50 calibre or greater which are held on firearm certificates have been a cause for any concern about public safety. [HL294]

Lord Bassam of Brighton

This information is not recorded centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The number of lawfully authorised weapons of this kind in current use is small at present and the Government are not aware of any cases involving the misuse of any such weapons which are lawfully held. However, we are aware of concerns about the misuse of weapons of this type by terrorists in Northern Ireland.