§ 46. Mr. Weitzmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to remove the exemptions under the Firearms Act, 1937, from holding a firearms certificate in certain cases.
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§ 49. Mr. Mawbyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the impending end of the death penalty, whether he will introduce legislation to increase substantially the penalty for illegal possession of firearms.
§ 51. Mrs. Joyce Butlerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek powers to tighten the restrictions on the sale of shotguns and other firearms which are at present sold without licence.
§ 53. Mr. John Hallasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to require all present and future owners of shotguns to apply for firearm certificates.
§ 57. Brigadier Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to restrict the sale and possession of firearms.
§ 59. Mr. Murtonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute legislation for the stricter control of the methods of sale and transfer of shotguns.
§ Sir F. SoskiceI am examining as a matter of urgency, in consultation with chief officers of police, the adequacy of the present legislation affecting firearms, and I hope to make a further statement at an early date.
§ Mr. Hoggasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the case with which smooth-bore firearms are available to the public; and whether, in view of the number of crimes committed with the aid of these weapons, he will take steps to bring their supply and possession under stricter control.
§ Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to extend licensing to cover all firearms including shotguns.
§ Mr. Hornbyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he intends to take to strengthen control over the sale of firearms to the public.
§ Sir F. SoskiceI am examining as a matter of urgency, in consultation with chief officers of police, the adequacy of the present legislation affecting firearms, and I hope to make a further statement at an early date.
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§ Mr. Weitzmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to see that private persons in possession of any firearms, whether as trophies or otherwise, hold them only under the authority of a firearms certificate or a requirement that they be kept in safe custody.
§ Sir F. SoskiceTrophies of war are already subject to firearms certificate procedure. Under Section 2 of the 1937 Act a chief officer of police, when granting a firearms certificate, may attach conditions to it; and under the Firearms Rules, 1937, where a certificate is granted or renewed it must specify that the firearms and ammunition to which it applies shall at all times when not in actual use be kept in a secure place.
§ Mr. Weitzmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the number of thefts or attempted thefts made from the premises of dealers of firearms in the past year;
(2) whether he will take steps to see that special security measures are taken with regard to the premises of dealers in firearms to prevent thefts or attempted thefts;
(3) whether he will take steps to see there is a duty upon dealers in firearms to report any loss and that steps are taken thereafter to inquire into each loss.
§ Sir F. SoskiceThe Commissioner of Police informs me that 28 cases of larceny or attempted larceny of firearms from firearm dealers, involving 812 weapons, were reported to the police during 1964 in the Metropolitan Police District and that 12 persons were arrested. I regret that no similar information is available for the rest of the country.
Under existing legislation chief officers of police have no power to impose conditions as to physical security in dealers' premises. But there is generally close co-operation between dealers and the police, and I understand that, after discussion with the Metropolitan Police, the Gun Trade Association are about to issue to their members a leaflet giving advice as to the steps that might be taken to ensure the maximum security of their premises.
The Firearms Act, 1937, requires a firearms dealer to keep a register of 110W transactions in a prescribed form, which, together with the dealer's stock in hand, may be inspected without prior notice by a duly authorised police officer. All reported losses and discrepancies are thoroughly investigated.
A chief officer of police may refuse to register a person as a firearms dealer if he is satisfied that the applicant cannot be permitted to carry on business as a firearms dealer without danger to the public safety or the peace.
§ Mr. Murtonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will declare a firearms amnesty to recover weapons illegally held.
§ Sir F. SoskiceI am considering this matter in conjunction with the review that I am at present conducting of the operation of the Firearms Act, 1937.