HL Deb 27 February 2002 vol 631 cc245-6WA
The Earl of Shrewsbury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What were the calibre, class or type, makes and model of the five shotguns seized by the Metropolitan Police during Operation Trident. [HL2786]

Lord Rooker

I am advised by the Metropolitan Police that details of guns seized as a result of the Operation Trident are not held separately from those of guns recovered in other operations, and that the information is not therefore readily available, without disproportionate cost.

The Earl of Shrewsbury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In the light of the announcements by the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority, the Lord Harris of Haringey, and Mr Lee Jasper, adviser to the Mayor of London, that 78 and 130 illegal firearms were seized by the Metropolitan Police in connection with Operation Trident, on what grounds did the Lord Rooker state on 8 January (WA 100) that 62 complete firearms had been seized in connection with this operation; and whether they will state the correct figure. [HL2788]

Lord Rooker

The figure of 62 complete firearms was provided by the Metropolitan Police to the Home Office in response to the noble Earl's earlier Question. It appears that this figure was given under the impression that the Question referred only to guns seized during the year 2001; and excluded some guns which only came to notice when the end-year figures were fully collated, giving a revised total of 78. I understand that the figure of 130 guns seized in connection with the operation since its inception should be taken as authoritative.