§ 82. Sir F. Medlicottasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the concern caused by the frequent cases of death and injury resulting from the use of shotguns by young people; and if he will consider the introduction of legislation which will prohibit persons under 16 years of age from owning such weapons, or from using them unless accompanied by an adult who, himself, has a licence to use the same.
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§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe existing law, which prohibits the purchase or hire of shotguns by persons under 17, but imposes no other restrictions on their possession or use, is based on the Report submitted in 1934 by a departmental committee. The committee considered that the imposition of further controls would be unlikely to reduce the number of accidents resulting from the use of shotguns. I have no evidence that the number of accidents from this cause has since increased, and as at present informed I know of no reason for departing from the policy recommended by the committee and approved by Parliament.