§ Sir C. Osborneasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in view of the increasing organised violence on bank officials, Post Office workers, and those in charge of large sums of money, if he will introduce legislation to authorise bank guards to be armed, with instructions to shoot, for an experimental period of two years, to see if this will stop the criminal war against society; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TaverneThe issue of firearms certificates is a matter for chief officers of police. Home Office advice to chief officers has been that only in very exceptional cases should a firearm be held for protection purposes; and that remains my right hon. Friend's view.