§ Mrs. McKayasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now make an appeal to the public for the surrender of firearms and ammunition.
§ Sir F. SoskiceYes. When the provisions of the new firearms legislation increasing the penalties for illegally possessing a firearm or ammunition without a firearm certificate were being discussed, I said that I intended to provide an opportunity for the surrender of illegally held firearms to the police without fear of prosecution.
I have accordingly asked chief officers of police in England and Wales to ensure that proceedings for unlawful possession 390W are not taken against anyone who surrenders firearms or ammunition by the 30th October. My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Lord Advocate have also arranged that such proceedings will not be taken in Scotland. Firearms and ammunition may be handed in at any police station, and I appeal to everyone who has an unauthorised weapon to take this opportunity to dispose of it.